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Definition of alternext
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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

Synonym Chooser

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 Directed by Obie Award winner David Cormer, the disturbing psychological horror thriller is an intense and unnerving examination of paranoia, love and life-altering delusion. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026 Other rising powers like India offer some engagement, but at this stage their regional footprint is far too small to alter the strategic balance. Oliver Stuenkel, Time, 9 Jan. 2026 The vaccines on the schedule that the CDC has altered were backed up by extensive safety research when they were evaluated and approved by the FDA. Arthur Allen, NPR, 9 Jan. 2026 Berberine may also affect how the liver metabolizes certain medications, which can alter how those drugs work in the body. Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 9 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alter
Verb
  • City council members heard a proposal Monday night to modify the section of the Independence City Code restricting and criminalizing the ways that residents purchase, transport and consume cannabis.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Recently, the president has modified his message to warn of a possible crime resurgence.
    Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Rather than just fix the problem, the sport might want to identify what exactly the problem is.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Some of the most compelling accessibility tech didn’t try to fix vision so much as translate the visual world into something usable.
    Eric Sullivan, Scientific American, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Rather than focusing only on crash performance, safety systems now need to adjust dynamically to changing vehicle states and user behavior.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
  • One pro tip is to pack a clean Eclipser Hoody in your pack to change into at the end of a hike for cooling comfort on the drive home.
    Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Almost all of our neighbors have remodeled over the years and gone to double-pane windows, which screen out a lot of noise.
    Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
  • The main arena has 25% more seating, bringing the total to around 1,000, and the player lounge has been remodeled.
    Myah Taylor, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Alter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alter. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on alter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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