better, preferable, less objectionable, least-worst
Used to express that while a situation or thing is not ideal or fully satisfactory, it is still better or more acceptable than the alternative.
Noun + ほうが
When comparing two nouns, the preferred (but still potentially unsatisfactory) noun is followed by ほうが
車がないより、この古い車のほうが
This old car is better than no car at all.
少しでも食べ物があるほうが
Even a little bit of food is better than nothing.
Verb (dictionary form) + ほうが
When comparing two actions, the preferred action is expressed using the dictionary form of the verb followed by ほうが
何もしないより、失敗するほうが
It is better to fail than to do nothing.
来ないバスを待つより、歩くほうが
It is better to walk than to wait for a bus that won't come.
In casual speech, だ is often dropped or replaced with phonetic variations like