as in changes
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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Recent Examples of mutates
Although flu seasons can vary in disease severity, the virus mutates so unpredictably that pandemic flu seasons – like those in 1918, 1957, 1968 and 2009 – are a recurring possibility.
—
Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2026
Measles mutates slowly enough that researchers can in many cases search for essentially the same strain when tracking its movements.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
This dynamic drives a phenomenon called antigenic shift meaning that the vaccine paradoxically encourages new mutations and can actually prolong pandemics as the virus constantly mutates to escape the protective effects of the vaccine.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2025
Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2026
Measles mutates slowly enough that researchers can in many cases search for essentially the same strain when tracking its movements.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
This dynamic drives a phenomenon called antigenic shift meaning that the vaccine paradoxically encourages new mutations and can actually prolong pandemics as the virus constantly mutates to escape the protective effects of the vaccine.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutates
Verb
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The indoor-to-outdoor design overlooking the Pacific Ocean changes the rhythm of dinner entirely.—
Corein Carter,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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Inspired by the muted colors and shifting light of arid West Texas, the palette gives the interiors an inviting appearance that changes subtly throughout the day.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Return on investment varies by site, depending on how many robots DHL has deployed—those hardware costs add up—and external factors like labor availability in each unique market.—
John Kell,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
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While treatment varies from person to person, surgically removing the scar tissue can improve your chances of becoming pregnant, especially when paired with fertility treatments such as IVF.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Tech giant Cisco is planning to eliminate thousands of jobs as the company shifts its primary focus to accelerate its artificial intelligence initiatives, a move that comes despite the company beating earnings expectations.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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The jet stream also shifts northward, typically pushing winter storms toward the Pacific Northwest and Canada while leaving swaths of California drier than average, especially in the south.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The inherent value of some watches fluctuates on a daily basis because of the materials.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
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When estrogen fluctuates wildly postpartum or during perimenopause, ADHD symptoms often get dramatically worse.—
Sarah Oreck,
SELF,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mutates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutates. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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