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

The dramatic finale and Potter’s second homecoming with West Ham altered the narrative. —Andy Naylor, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025

The use of the laws of perspective amazed bystanders, altered the course of Western art for more than 450 years and, more recently, led to mathematical discoveries that enable elliptic curve cryptography. —Richard Jensen, Scientific American, 28 Apr. 2025

For example, rescheduling could alter tax obligations under Section 280E of the tax code, which currently prevents cannabis businesses from deducting standard business expenses. —Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 28 Apr. 2025

Betty Grimes: Betty’s Alterations & Tuxedo, St. Louis In a storefront off a quiet avenue in St. Louis, 75-year-old Betty Grimes has spent the past 21 years continuing the tradition of altering and repairing. —Shelton Boyd-Griffith, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025

Phrases Containing alter

• alter ego