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
Designer Sherrice Mojgani carefully modulates the lighting to isolate the narrative cutaways.
—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
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
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modulates
Verb
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The move by the Bar Standards Board, which regulates lawyers practicing in England and Wales, is the latest challenge Khan is facing.
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This matters because humans have a direct neural pathway from the eyes to the brain region that regulates the circadian rhythm, our internal biological clock governing wakefulness and sleep.
Verb
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Roborock Vacuum Deals Roborock Qrevo Curv This premium, high-end hybrid robot vacuum and mop features an innovative self-lifting chassis that adjusts in real-time to climb over small thresholds and obstacles.
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Some providers might work on a sliding fee scale, for example, which adjusts cost based on a patient’s household income and family size.
Verb
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Soon after, Hawk absentmindedly corrects Piña’s English, prompting her to air her own frustrations with their relationship.
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This story corrects the day of week.
Verb
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The hit rate improves dramatically.
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The show, which improves after intermission, does have a fabulous closer — greatest-hits worthy — that is composed simply of two guys (musical director John Love and the consistently excellent Lilly) singing in falsetto.
Cite this Entry
“Modulates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modulates. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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