Synonyms of modify

modify

verb

ˈmä-də-ˌfī 

1

as in to alter

to limit the meaning of (as a noun)

adjectives are words that modify nouns, while adverbs can modify adjectives and verbs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• alter
• qualify
• misrepresent
• distort
• color
• narrow
• misstate
• warp
• pervert
• twist

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expand
• broaden
• widen

2

as in to change

to make different in some way

he modified the appliance so that it would run more quietly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• alter
• change
• remodel
• transform
• rework
• revise
• recast
• remake
• refashion
• redo
• vary
• revamp
• deform
• mutate
• make over
• metamorphose
• revolutionize
• transmute
• convert
• transfigure
• exchange
• regenerate
• retool
• commute
• rejigger

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• set
• fix
• stabilize
• freeze

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of modify are alter, change, and vary. While all these words mean "to make or become different," modify suggests a difference that limits, restricts, or adapts to a new purpose.

modified the building for use by the disabled

When can alter be used instead of modify?

The meanings of alter and modify largely overlap; however, 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 modify?

The words change and modify are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When would vary be a good substitute for modify?

Although the words vary and modify have much in common, vary stresses a breaking away from sameness, duplication, or exact repetition.

vary your daily routine

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of modify

But they are banned because the some Glock models allow people to modify the gun easily with a small piece of plastic that can be 3-D printed to turn it into a fully automatic weapon. —Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025

These stem cells are purified in a lab, and then modified using an inactivated form of the virus that causes HIV. —Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2025

Running shoe companies must abandon the practice of designing women’s footwear by simply modifying men’s shoes into smaller sizes and brighter colors, according to new research published in the journal . —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

Vicens modified the set-piece defensive setup each season, benefiting from the addition of another aerial presence in 6ft 5in (196cm) striker Erling Haaland. —Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025