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
But at the State meet, officials alternated between sticking to the normal race schedule and running the 2 mile early in the meet and the mile later as had been the case in 1974 at the State meet in Bakersfield.
—
Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
In 2025, Simmons alternated that technique with others, such as the circle punch.
—Pj Green
may 23, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2026
Since then, the Canes have alternated between practices and off-days to keep themselves refreshed.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 21 May 2026
In a podcast taping with Kimmel, Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver last week, Colbert alternated between sentimental and sarcastic about the end of his show.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
The competition between Morton and Staubach came to a head in 1971 after both started games and even alternated snaps at one point.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026
The program alternated between stand-up sets — from comics including John Mulaney, Bill Burr, Leanne Morgan, Ron Funches, Nikki Glaser, Matt Rife and Ali Wong — and bidding on some very exclusive items, all in the name of supporting people with autism and their families.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
This was an interesting series as the two teams alternated wins.
—David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
In the United States, NBC dominated World Series coverage from 1950 to 1976 and CBS and NBC alternated the first 18 Super Bowl telecasts.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
In 2025, Simmons alternated that technique with others, such as the circle punch.
—Pj Green
may 23, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2026
Since then, the Canes have alternated between practices and off-days to keep themselves refreshed.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 21 May 2026
In a podcast taping with Kimmel, Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver last week, Colbert alternated between sentimental and sarcastic about the end of his show.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
The competition between Morton and Staubach came to a head in 1971 after both started games and even alternated snaps at one point.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026
The program alternated between stand-up sets — from comics including John Mulaney, Bill Burr, Leanne Morgan, Ron Funches, Nikki Glaser, Matt Rife and Ali Wong — and bidding on some very exclusive items, all in the name of supporting people with autism and their families.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
This was an interesting series as the two teams alternated wins.
—David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
In the United States, NBC dominated World Series coverage from 1950 to 1976 and CBS and NBC alternated the first 18 Super Bowl telecasts.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternated
Verb
-
Sarcastic fury on his past albums used to be paired with a sense of playful discovery, like the new wave synths mixed with punishing bass on All My Heroes Are Cornballs or the SP-404-shredding beats that powered his Danny Brown collaboration Scaring The Hoes.—
Dylan Green,
Pitchfork,
29 May 2026
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Most sectors were in positive territory, though performances were mixed among the region's major bourses.—
Hugh Leask,Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Wheeler, a three-time All-Star, had only given up one home run in his six other starts this season combined.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
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In their scenes together, Ahmed plays straight man so Khan can go huge, all breezy confidence and street smarts combined as a defense against the countless stereotypes the bearded, accented, proudly Muslim Zulfi must face every day.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The jewel of the property, however, is undoubtedly the in-ground outdoor pool and hot tub juxtaposed by the surrounding desert foliage and boulder formations.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
28 May 2026
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Throughout the fabric, scratches and dashes of black juxtaposed the white tone.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
The corporate defendants are both incorporated in New York.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
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The San José Unified School District, as an example, has incorporated a 40-hour community service requirement throughout high school into its curriculum as part of an effort to encourage engagement with the broader community, foster empathy and reduce social isolation among students.—
Muhammad Aquil,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
That had been the story of his Grand Slam career up until this year’s French Open, physical ailments interspersed with brutal five-set defeats.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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Over two minutes, a spectrum of Black improvisational styles battle on what feels like a Red Planet, interspersed with video game chirps and tectonic-shifting airblasts that cool the magma cooked up during combat, each one building off the other’s energy.—
Tatiana Lee Rodriguez,
Pitchfork,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alternated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternated. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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