as in transforming
to take on a different shape, appearance, or state
When it emerged from its chrysalis, the caterpillar had morphed into a striking butterfly.
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Recent Examples of morphing
Protests broke out in Iran in late December against the rising cost of living before morphing into nationwide anti-government demonstrations that peaked on January 8 and 9.
—
CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
The fever dream continued with Howard wailing on guitar and vocals, the production morphing into a beautiful stew of blues rock and given an exclamation point – and a standing ovation – with Copeland spinning out of the shadows.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
The 2018 seventh-round pick climbed the depth chart through the years, first emerging as a special teams ace and then morphing into an every-down linebacker.
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Perfect serving size, too, where they are gobbled down before morphing back into plain, lukewarm potato slivers.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Friday’s game began like the World Series before morphing into a typical spring training game with unknown players wearing uniform numbers in the 80s and 90s playing out the final innings.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
The approach allows a single sheet of material to perform multiple functions at once, including adaptive camouflage, information encryption and decryption, and shape morphing.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
The film went through at least six writers over five years, including Noah Baumbach of all people, before morphing into its final form with a generic Bernie Madoff–like figure played by Alda.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
The demonstrations began in late December in response to the collapsing value of the national currency -- the rial -- before morphing into a wider anti-regime movement which drew backing from dissidents abroad and Western governments.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2026
CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
The fever dream continued with Howard wailing on guitar and vocals, the production morphing into a beautiful stew of blues rock and given an exclamation point – and a standing ovation – with Copeland spinning out of the shadows.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
The 2018 seventh-round pick climbed the depth chart through the years, first emerging as a special teams ace and then morphing into an every-down linebacker.
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Perfect serving size, too, where they are gobbled down before morphing back into plain, lukewarm potato slivers.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Friday’s game began like the World Series before morphing into a typical spring training game with unknown players wearing uniform numbers in the 80s and 90s playing out the final innings.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
The approach allows a single sheet of material to perform multiple functions at once, including adaptive camouflage, information encryption and decryption, and shape morphing.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
The film went through at least six writers over five years, including Noah Baumbach of all people, before morphing into its final form with a generic Bernie Madoff–like figure played by Alda.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
The demonstrations began in late December in response to the collapsing value of the national currency -- the rial -- before morphing into a wider anti-regime movement which drew backing from dissidents abroad and Western governments.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for morphing
Verb
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This subsequently sends the starship forward or backward in time, while occasionally (and inexplicably) transforming your shipmates into freaky clay heads.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
17 Mar. 2026
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The gals’ night together becomes an illuminating, madcap journey, transforming their feud into friendship.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The footage also shows that Peter's DNA is mutating, which brings him to Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner for help.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
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In the games, the ghost town operates as an ever-mutating mindspace.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Morphing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/morphing. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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