Synonyms of alter

alter

verb

ˈȯl-tər 

1

as in to modify

to make different in some way

can't you alter your plans just slightly so we can leave 10 minutes earlier?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• set
• fix
• stabilize
• freeze

2

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

• fix
• neuter
• sterilize
• emasculate
• desex
• castrate
• geld
• spay

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

Recent Examples of alter

This street corner was forever altered on May 25, 2020, when Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes, suffocating and killing him. —Meg Anderson, NPR, 23 May 2025

Modern technology could alter how parks update — or replace — existing attractions, Speigel said. —Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2025

Also: Glass skin is an unattainable idea, as not even the best prescription retinol on the market can alter the pore size you were born with. 3. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 22 May 2025

Studies have found that emulsifiers can alter the mix of bacteria in the gut, known as the microbiome or microbiota; damage the lining of the gastrointestinal tract; and trigger inflammation, potentially contributing to problems elsewhere in the body. —David Hilzenrath, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025

Phrases Containing alter

• alter ego