as in to regulate
to make changes to (something) in order to keep a desirable balance, proportion, etc.
He takes insulin to modulate his blood sugar levels. She kept talking during the performance, making no effort to modulate her voice.
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Recent Examples of modulate
The finer points of calling out Reid’s verbose plays was a challenge, and so was even modulating his voice as a QB.
—
Kansas City Star, 18 July 2025
Understanding these pathways in more detail could lead to new treatments that modulate immune responses more precisely, reducing collateral damage while preserving antimicrobial defenses.
—Andrew Monteith, The Conversation, 25 June 2025
The film’s warm tones take the form of a mid-2000s orange wash, harkening back to a time when digital color correction was the hot new tool, but action filmmakers hadn’t quite figured how to modulate it.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 July 2025
Other admixture plants were optional and only used to modulate the effects, much to the confusion of the botanists studying the potion.
—Literary Hub, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for modulate
Kansas City Star, 18 July 2025
Understanding these pathways in more detail could lead to new treatments that modulate immune responses more precisely, reducing collateral damage while preserving antimicrobial defenses.
—Andrew Monteith, The Conversation, 25 June 2025
The film’s warm tones take the form of a mid-2000s orange wash, harkening back to a time when digital color correction was the hot new tool, but action filmmakers hadn’t quite figured how to modulate it.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 July 2025
Other admixture plants were optional and only used to modulate the effects, much to the confusion of the botanists studying the potion.
—Literary Hub, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for modulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modulate
Verb
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The agency will no longer regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants or oil and gas operations.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The production of cortisol is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is the body’s main stress response system.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Meanwhile, the app is working to prioritize content from friends, remove spam, adjust the amount and type of news content users see and more.—
Joe Mutascio,
IndyStar,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This method is proving to be an effective way to improve the audience’s relationship with the brand and the real-world impact of marketing dollars.—
Stacey Stratton,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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This can significantly improve efficiency and reduce errors, making the 15-minute breaks a worthwhile investment in long-term productivity.—
Nancy Pulciano,
Rolling Stone,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Modulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modulate. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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