altering

verb

present participle of alter
1
as in modifying
to make different in some way can't you alter your plans just slightly so we can leave 10 minutes earlier?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fixing
to remove the sex organs of contends that cats and dogs that have been altered make better pets

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 altering The probable cause affidavit states that in an interview after his arrest, Lequerique expressed remorse, acknowledged the X account was his and admitted to altering images and searching online for similar material. — Laurie Mermet, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2026 The idea was to focus on altering a drone‘s physical appearance to change how it is perceived. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026 Some call it life-altering, with out-of-body experiences, incredibly vivid hallucinations, distorted time perception, and… encounters with mysterious entities. — Charles Moss, SPIN, 16 July 2026 This is a party for Brad Raffensperger, who is currently the secretary of state and now running for Georgia governor—and who, six years ago, had a life-altering phone call with the president. — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026 The appeal lies in altering the face’s framework rather than simply addressing signs of aging. — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026 The Justice Department said that the disgraced former executive bilked the museum out of the money by altering invoices and approving transactions for personal purchases. — News Desk, Artforum, 14 July 2026 Grief and depression are common after season- or career-ending injuries and other life-altering experiences. — ABC News, 13 July 2026 While other Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been mentioned, the UAE appears the most likely buyer, potentially altering the region's air defense landscape and resolving Turkey's long-standing S-400 dispute. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for altering
  1. modifying
  2. fixing
  3. changing
  4. remodeling
Verb
  • There’s also a distinction between the impact of blocking the transaction altogether and only modifying the merger as part of a settlement, and that’s where things could get interesting.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 14 July 2026
  • Furthermore, the study demonstrated that modifying the contours of the arms allows for precise control over internal fluid flows.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026
Definition of modifying
Verb
  • However, because the full constellation was just 36 operational satellites, Transit could only provide location-fixing services every hour or two at best whenever a satellite appeared over the horizon.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026
  • The agreement marks the latest settlement in a long-running battle between numerous states and many of the largest players in the generic drug industry, which were accused of fixing prices for their medicines.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 15 July 2026
Definition of fixing
Verb
  • There’s been a political tug-of-war over Bears Ears and Grand Staircase for years that aligns with changing presidential administrations.
    — Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 July 2026
  • Altitude control comes from changing overall motor thrust, and its spinning nature makes the drone passively stable.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 16 July 2026
Definition of changing
Verb
  • Work ranged from repairing the roof and updating the heating and ventilation systems to remodeling the community workspaces and adding new study pods.
    — Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2026
  • During the transition period, all YMCA programs will continue while the church fundraises and plans remodeling.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 19 June 2026
Definition of remodeling

Browse Nearby Words

alter egos
altering
alternate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Altering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/altering. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on altering

Nglish: Translation of altering for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All