alter

verb

ˈȯl-tər How to pronounce alter (audio)
Definition of alternext
1
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
2
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

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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

Example 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 Rwandan President Paul Kagame said US sanctions imposed on his military will not alter Kigali’s stance over eastern DR Congo, dismissing the restrictions as a cost of pursuing national interests. —Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 15 May 2026 In January, the administration altered the schedule to more closely resemble Denmark’s, recommending all children get vaccines for 11 diseases, compared with the 18 previously on the schedule. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 15 May 2026 Buffett said at the time that the pandemic had fundamentally altered consumer behavior and travel patterns. —Yun Li, CNBC, 15 May 2026 Shifting rainfall alters the ecology of cholera. —John Drake, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for alter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alter
  1. modify
  2. fix
  3. change
  4. remodel
Verb
  • Not to be redistributed, copied, or modified in any way.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
  • The interest rate may be seen as a stand-in for immutable deep parameters like people’s rate of time preference, or as a price set within the financial system, which can be modified to achieve our collective goals.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Definition of modify
Verb
  • Newhouse acquired the Pollock in 2000 for an undisclosed sum from then-Sotheby’s owner Alfred Taubman, who was facing hefty legal fees from his price-fixing scandal.
    — Julie Brener Davich, ARTnews.com, 19 May 2026
  • Despite opening foreign properties like the Michelangelo in New York’s Midtown district in 1992, taking over the Hotel Castille in Paris in 2005 and The Gore, The Pelham and The Franklin in London in 2014, the focus for the group remains fixed on Italy.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
Definition of fix
Verb
  • The map has changed multiple times over the past month, and at one point was removed from the website entirely.
    — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
  • Even when facing the best offense in baseball, Imanaga’s standard doesn’t change.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Definition of change
Verb
  • Some home improvements can be expensive, such as adding central air conditioning or remodeling an entire room of your house.
    — Hiranmayi Srinivasan, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2026
  • The second Wild Sisters bookstore will be housed in the new and remodeled Paperwork Building, the owners wrote online.
    — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
Definition of remodel

Phrases Containing alter

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altars
alter
alterable
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Cite this Entry

“Alter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alter. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on alter

Nglish: Translation of alter for Spanish Speakers

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