alternative vs less

alternative

noun
  • A situation which allows a mutually exclusive choice between two or more possibilities; a choice between two or more possibilities. 

  • One of several mutually exclusive things which can be chosen. 

  • alternative rock 

  • A non-offensive word or phrase that serves as a replacement for a word deemed offensive or unacceptable, though not as a euphemism. 

  • The remaining option; something available after other possibilities have been exhausted. 

adj
  • Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities. 

  • Presenting two or more alternatives. 

  • Other; different from something else. 

  • Not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground. 

less

adv
  • To a smaller extent or degree. 

  • Used for constructing syntactic diminutive comparatives of adjectives and adverbs. 

conj
  • unless 

noun
  • A smaller amount or quantity. 

det
  • Fewer; a smaller number of. 

  • A smaller amount of; not as much. 

prep
  • Minus; not including 

How often have the words alternative and less occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )