Thesaurus results for TRANSMUTE

transmute

verb

tran(t)s-ˈmyüt

as in to transform

to change in form, appearance, or use in his elegy on his deceased wife, the poet has transmuted inconsolable grief into high art

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Synonym Chooser

How is the word transmute different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of transmute are convert, metamorphose, transfigure, transform, and transmogrify. While all these words mean "to change a thing into a different thing," transmute implies transforming into a higher element or thing.

attempted to transmute lead into gold

When might convert be a better fit than transmute?

Although the words convert and transmute have much in common, convert implies a change fitting something for a new or different use or function.

converted the study into a nursery

When is it sensible to use metamorphose instead of transmute?

The words metamorphose and transmute are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, metamorphose suggests an abrupt or startling change induced by or as if by magic or a supernatural power.

awkward girls metamorphosed into graceful ballerinas

When is transfigure a more appropriate choice than transmute?

The meanings of transfigure and transmute largely overlap; however, transfigure implies a change that exalts or glorifies.

joy transfigured her face

When would transform be a good substitute for transmute?

The words transform and transmute can be used in similar contexts, but transform implies a major change in form, nature, or function.

transformed a small company into a corporate giant

In what contexts can transmogrify take the place of transmute?

While the synonyms transmogrify and transmute are close in meaning, transmogrify suggests a strange or preposterous metamorphosis.

a story in which a frog is transmogrified into a prince

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 transmute In the business classic Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, Charles Mackay examined the psychology of crowd behavior and mass hysteria throughout history, from the Dutch Tulip Mania of the 1630s to humanity’s historical obsession with transmuting base metals into gold. —

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025 Onyx is believed to absorb and transmute negativity; hence, it is widely used as a protective stone. —

Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025 Beyond lies further alchemy, as film is transmuted into digital form. —

Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025 Nuclear reactors, where heavy elements were transmuted into lighter ones, released antineutrinos that could be absorbed by atomic nuclei outside of the reactor, leading to their discovery. —

Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for transmute

Recent Examples of Synonyms for transmute

Verb

Ugg has since transformed its cozy shoe collection, debuting fresh silhouettes each winter that reliably find a place in everyone's closet.

— Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026
But if needed, the purse can transform into a crossbody with the attachable 23-inch adjustable strap.

— Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026