as in regulates
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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar 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 modulates
Designer Sherrice Mojgani carefully modulates the lighting to isolate the narrative cutaways.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026
In doing so, poetry modulates our neuroendocrine, neuroimmune, circulatory, and other systems to bring back healing.
—K.j.s. “sunny” Anand, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
While the Earth system is unfathomably complex, Mills has been able to reproduce the broad trajectory of our climate over the ages by turning just four knobs — each of which modulates the carbon dioxide budget.
—Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
That’s a big deal because plate tectonics is our master story for how Earth recycles rock, drives volcanism and mountain-building, and modulates climate over geologic time.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
These scenes are some of the strongest, as Pellerin impressively modulates Matthew’s turn from endearingly cringey to terrifyingly single-minded.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Coating the film with transparent electrodes enabled them to excite the crystal, setting up an acoustic standing wave that modulates the intensity of light passing through it.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Apr. 2022
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026
In doing so, poetry modulates our neuroendocrine, neuroimmune, circulatory, and other systems to bring back healing.
—K.j.s. “sunny” Anand, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
While the Earth system is unfathomably complex, Mills has been able to reproduce the broad trajectory of our climate over the ages by turning just four knobs — each of which modulates the carbon dioxide budget.
—Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
That’s a big deal because plate tectonics is our master story for how Earth recycles rock, drives volcanism and mountain-building, and modulates climate over geologic time.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
These scenes are some of the strongest, as Pellerin impressively modulates Matthew’s turn from endearingly cringey to terrifyingly single-minded.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Coating the film with transparent electrodes enabled them to excite the crystal, setting up an acoustic standing wave that modulates the intensity of light passing through it.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Apr. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for modulates
Verb
-
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine engineered the harmless eye-dwelling microbe Corynebacterium mastitidis to secrete interleukin-10 (IL-10), a protein that regulates inflammation and supports wound healing.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
-
How the Living Eye Drops Work The Pitt team engineered Corynebacterium mastitidis, a benign microbe that already resides under the eyelid, to continuously secrete interleukin-10 (IL-10), a small protein that regulates inflammation.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Caffeine-free pre-workouts are another option for keeping training intensity up while the body adjusts.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
-
California adjusts lottery prizes based on the number of tickets sold and number of winners.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
This version corrects the spelling of Monongalia County Ballpark.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
Francisco corrects Arnold's Spanish and has conversations with him through his computer speakers.—
Stephan Bisaha,
NPR,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Analysts see more upside to earnings and valuation as the economy improves and FedEx’s network integration progresses.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
12 June 2026
-
About 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week improves blood flow, lowers stress and supports collagen production, per the Skinspan roadmap.—
Allison Palmer
June 12,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Modulates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modulates. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
