altered

adjective

al·​tered ˈȯl-tərd How to pronounce altered (audio)
1
: made different in some way
… she addressed me again, speaking in very altered tones; so altered, that I hardly recognised them as hers.Wilkie Collins
… no great change had taken place inside him, but his exterior was visibly altered.Booth Tarkington
2
: castrated sense 1a
I've noticed that my altered cats and my older cats have more dandruff than the unaltered and younger ones.Susie Page

Examples of altered in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Despite the altered parade schedule, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell celebrated the city's resilience, emphasizing the authenticity of the festivities. Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025 The mice also may look more full-bodied because another altered gene leads to changes in body weight in mammoths. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025 Previous studies have attributed persistent medical conditions astronauts on the ISS have reported, such as skin rashes, cold sores and some atypical allergies, to their altered immune systems. Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2025 The viewing experience can feel like slipping into an altered fugue state, time suspended entirely. Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for altered

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of alter

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of altered was in 1563

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Cite this Entry

“Altered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altered. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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