as in to change
to pass from one form, state, or level to another
colored lights that slowly mutate from green to blue and so on across the color spectrum
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mutate
Antisemitism is a toxic virus that continues to mutate.
—
Brian Siegal, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Zhang, of Purdue, studies bioelectrical signaling in zebra fish, which develop striking extra-long tails when a certain ion channel is mutated.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
However, cases have sharply risen since 2021, likely due to a combination of mutating bacteria and declining rates of vaccination overall, especially among teens getting a booster dose for bacterial meningitis, doctors suggest.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
The virus infects a wide range of animals and has the ability to mutate rapidly.
—Patrick Jackson, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mutate
Brian Siegal, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Zhang, of Purdue, studies bioelectrical signaling in zebra fish, which develop striking extra-long tails when a certain ion channel is mutated.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
However, cases have sharply risen since 2021, likely due to a combination of mutating bacteria and declining rates of vaccination overall, especially among teens getting a booster dose for bacterial meningitis, doctors suggest.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
The virus infects a wide range of animals and has the ability to mutate rapidly.
—Patrick Jackson, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mutate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutate
Verb
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The team analyzed 44 elements and found no single universal reaction to space; instead, microbial metabolism changed in distinct, element-specific ways.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Feb. 2026
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At the same time, the context around these measures has changed.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While individual risk factors vary, the average risk of developing colorectal cancer over one's lifetime is about 1 in 24 for men and about 1 in 26 for women, per the American Cancer Society.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
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The flagship campus in Austin admits roughly around 27–30 % of applicants overall, though that number varies significantly between Texas residents and out-of-state applicants.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This mindset started to shift in the 1960s, when scholars recognized ASL as a language.—
Claire Rafford,
IndyStar,
9 Feb. 2026
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However, Musk is known for delivering bold statements and shifting timelines.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mutate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutate. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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