as in regulates
to make changes to (something) in order to keep a desirable balance, proportion, etc.
He takes insulin to modulate his blood sugar levels. She kept talking during the performance, making no effort to modulate her voice.
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Recent Examples of modulates
In doing so, poetry modulates our neuroendocrine, neuroimmune, circulatory, and other systems to bring back healing.
—
K.j.s. “sunny” Anand, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
While the Earth system is unfathomably complex, Mills has been able to reproduce the broad trajectory of our climate over the ages by turning just four knobs — each of which modulates the carbon dioxide budget.
—Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
That’s a big deal because plate tectonics is our master story for how Earth recycles rock, drives volcanism and mountain-building, and modulates climate over geologic time.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
These scenes are some of the strongest, as Pellerin impressively modulates Matthew’s turn from endearingly cringey to terrifyingly single-minded.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Coating the film with transparent electrodes enabled them to excite the crystal, setting up an acoustic standing wave that modulates the intensity of light passing through it.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Apr. 2022
K.j.s. “sunny” Anand, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
While the Earth system is unfathomably complex, Mills has been able to reproduce the broad trajectory of our climate over the ages by turning just four knobs — each of which modulates the carbon dioxide budget.
—Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
That’s a big deal because plate tectonics is our master story for how Earth recycles rock, drives volcanism and mountain-building, and modulates climate over geologic time.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
These scenes are some of the strongest, as Pellerin impressively modulates Matthew’s turn from endearingly cringey to terrifyingly single-minded.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Coating the film with transparent electrodes enabled them to excite the crystal, setting up an acoustic standing wave that modulates the intensity of light passing through it.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Apr. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modulates
Verb
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The endocannabinoid system—a brain system that regulates mood, sleep, memory and appetite—also undergoes substantial growth and signaling activity during adolescence.—
Sara Novak,
Scientific American,
18 May 2026
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This releases nutrient-rich fungi and bacteria to the soil, regulates soil temperature, and helps retain moisture.—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Those receptors constantly monitor changes in blood flow and send signals to the brain, which then adjusts heart rate and blood vessel tension.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
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California adjusts lottery prizes based on the number of tickets sold and number of winners.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
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This version corrects the company name to Dubai Ports World.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
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Discover the altered gene, place healthy versions of the gene into innocuous viruses, give those to patients, hope that kickstarts the CFTR protein and corrects the problem.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While no specific therapy is approved for ANDV, early recognition dramatically improves the ability to deliver aggressive supportive care, monitor oxygenation, isolate potentially infectious patients, and initiate contact tracing before broader transmission occurs.—
Steve Brozak,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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The slate improves from there, but Chicago TEs have only three favorable matchups all season.—
KC Joyner,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Modulates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modulates. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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