stattdessen
Translation
instead, instead of that
Examples
Er wollte fernsehen, las stattdessen ein Buch.
He wanted to watch TV, but read a book instead.
Fahr nicht mit dem Auto, nimm stattdessen das Fahrrad.
Don't go by car, take the bicycle instead.
Grammar Patterns
((Clause)), stattdessen ((Clause)) ..., but instead ... He wanted to sleep, but instead he worked.
Similar Words
dafür, anstelle dessen
Etymology
Composed of 'statt' (instead of) and 'dessen' (of that). Literally means 'instead of that'.
Memory Tips
Think of it as a direct replacement. You are doing something 'instead of that' other thing. It often introduces an alternative action.