ALTER Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'alter' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of alter are change , modify , and vary . While all these words mean "to make or become different," alter implies a difference in some particular respect without suggesting loss of identity. // slightly altered the original design

Q: When is it sensible to use 'change' instead of 'alter'?

In some situations, the words change and alter are roughly equivalent. However, change implies making either an essential difference often amounting to a loss of original identity or a substitution of one thing for another. // changed the shirt for a larger size

Q: In what contexts can 'modify' take the place of 'alter'?

The synonyms modify and alter are sometimes interchangeable, but modify suggests a difference that limits, restricts, or adapts to a new purpose. // modified the building for use by the disabled

Q: When might 'vary' be a better fit than 'alter'?

Although the words vary and alter have much in common, vary stresses a breaking away from sameness, duplication, or exact repetition. // vary your daily routine

alter

verb

ˈȯl-tər

Definition of alter next

as in to modify

to make different in some way can't you alter your plans just slightly so we can leave 10 minutes earlier?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to fix

to remove the sex organs of contends that cats and dogs that have been altered make better pets

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word alter different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of alter are change, modify, and vary. While all these words mean "to make or become different," alter implies a difference in some particular respect without suggesting loss of identity.

slightly altered the original design

When is it sensible to use change instead of alter?

In some situations, the words change and alter are roughly equivalent. However, change implies making either an essential difference often amounting to a loss of original identity or a substitution of one thing for another.

changed the shirt for a larger size

In what contexts can modify take the place of alter?

The synonyms modify and alter are sometimes interchangeable, but modify suggests a difference that limits, restricts, or adapts to a new purpose.

modified the building for use by the disabled

When might vary be a better fit than alter?

Although the words vary and alter have much in common, vary stresses a breaking away from sameness, duplication, or exact repetition.

vary your daily routine

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of alter Instead, his administration focused on renegotiating trade agreements, such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), to alter trade dynamics with Mexico. —

Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 4 Nov. 2024 They were promised a story, a fiction, a sleight of hand, a shuffling of letters that altered reality. —

Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024 Rewording a prompt, which to a human would appear to convey the same meaning, can cause an LLM to significantly alter the output for no apparent reason. —

Alston Lin, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 Burned Haystack has 10 cardinal rules designed to fundamentally alter your approach to the apps. —

Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for alter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for alter

Verb

The tool can modify sentences or longer sections of text to shorten or lengthen the word count, change the tone, or format it in a different way.

Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
However, some stores may have modified hours to accommodate workers who are voting.

Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024