as in mixed
to place or do (different things) so that one follows the other in a repeated series
To make the appetizer, you should alternate layers of tomatoes and cheese. The poem alternates fear and hope.
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Recent Examples of alternated
Hoss, now fifty, has alternated between the two mediums ever since.
—
Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
The mix of heritage footwear has become a throughline for the actor-director, who’s often alternated between vintage sportswear and Chanel tailoring on her press tour.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2025
In their last four games, the Raiders have alternated between nailbiters and blowout losses, with a 1-point loss to Chicago, a 34-point loss to the Colts and a 20-10 win over the Titans before the big loss to Kansas City.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Faced with the prospect of being overthrown or killed, Maduro has alternated between pleading for peace and warning the United States about his country's defense capabilities.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Broncos booed off the field after a first half that alternated between boring and embarrassing.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie have alternated at left-back.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Throughout history, the Colorado River has alternated between reaching the Sea of Cortez and filling the Salton Sea.
—Big Think, 17 Oct. 2025
Sheriffs Chris Davis, of Humphreys County, and Jason Craft, of Hickman County, alternated reading the victims' names.
—Nicole Young, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Oct. 2025
Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
The mix of heritage footwear has become a throughline for the actor-director, who’s often alternated between vintage sportswear and Chanel tailoring on her press tour.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2025
In their last four games, the Raiders have alternated between nailbiters and blowout losses, with a 1-point loss to Chicago, a 34-point loss to the Colts and a 20-10 win over the Titans before the big loss to Kansas City.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Faced with the prospect of being overthrown or killed, Maduro has alternated between pleading for peace and warning the United States about his country's defense capabilities.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Broncos booed off the field after a first half that alternated between boring and embarrassing.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 19 Oct. 2025
Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie have alternated at left-back.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Throughout history, the Colorado River has alternated between reaching the Sea of Cortez and filling the Salton Sea.
—Big Think, 17 Oct. 2025
Sheriffs Chris Davis, of Humphreys County, and Jason Craft, of Hickman County, alternated reading the victims' names.
—Nicole Young, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternated
Verb
-
Israel wiped out entire cities with nothing left but an abundance of rubble mixed with thousands of corpses stuck underneath.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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One fall night under the neon sign at Ground Zero, groups of tourists flocked in to hear Heavy Suga’ play originals mixed with blues classics and Muddy Waters hits.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The overnight storm was likely triggered by a glancing CME arrival that combined with lingering effects from a high-speed solar wind stream, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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By 1957, Levittown was spending 16 percent of its annual school budget on debt service, more than the salaries of all of its junior-high and high-school teachers combined.—
Michael Waters,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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His only book, Portraits in Life and Death (1976), juxtaposed photos of people in his circle and with images of ancient corpses in the Palermo catacombs.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
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The accordion chart shows inflation in 2025 (from January through August) juxtaposed with average annual inflation for the five years between 2020 and 2024.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This summer, Tesla left Delaware and incorporated in Texas, where the company’s board promptly offered Musk the new, eye-popping pay package.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Key Takeaways Turmeric and honey may help reduce inflammation when incorporated into a healthy diet.—
Gillian Mohney,
Verywell Health,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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McClintock’s long stints in California’s capital of Sacramento were interspersed with several unsuccessful runs for statewide office.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
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A lot of mobility work, but interspersed with heavy compound movements.—
Alex Ross,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Alternated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternated. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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