The term 'instead of' is used to indicate that one thing is being substituted FOR another. The crossword solutions FOR this term are 'LIEU' (4 letters), 'FOR' (3 letters), 'than' (4 letters), 'in LIEU' (6 letters), and 'rather than' (10 letters). 'LIEU' is a French word meaning 'PLACE' or 'LOCATION'. 'FOR' is a preposition indicating substitution. 'Than' is a conjunction used to compare two things. 'In LIEU' is a phrase meaning 'in PLACE of'. 'Rather than' is a phrase meaning 'instead of'.