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
-
Some foods contain melatonin, a natural hormone that regulates your sleep cycle.—
Trista Chan,
Health,
25 May 2026
-
This sends a signal along sensory nerve fibers to the autonomic nervous system, specifically the sympathetic branch, which is the same system that regulates your heart rate, sweat response and pupil dilation.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
California adjusts lottery prizes based on the number of tickets sold and number of winners.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
-
What matters is whether the organization adjusts its processes accordingly.—
William Phillips,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, premiering May 20 on Apple TV, corrects this oversight.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
20 May 2026
-
The Future Success Profile corrects that at the root.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Brands that effectively integrate technology into their customer experience (in a way that improves that experience) can begin to leverage 21st-century brand-building to keep their strategic flywheel turning.—
Clifford Hudson,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
Its direct proximity to subway access also improves mobility around the city for many travelers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Modulates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/modulates. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
