as in changes
to pass from one form, state, or level to another
colored lights that slowly mutate from green to blue and so on across the color spectrum
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Recent Examples of mutates
Although flu seasons can vary in disease severity, the virus mutates so unpredictably that pandemic flu seasons – like those in 1918, 1957, 1968 and 2009 – are a recurring possibility.
—
Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2026
Measles mutates slowly enough that researchers can in many cases search for essentially the same strain when tracking its movements.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
This dynamic drives a phenomenon called antigenic shift meaning that the vaccine paradoxically encourages new mutations and can actually prolong pandemics as the virus constantly mutates to escape the protective effects of the vaccine.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2025
Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2026
Measles mutates slowly enough that researchers can in many cases search for essentially the same strain when tracking its movements.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
This dynamic drives a phenomenon called antigenic shift meaning that the vaccine paradoxically encourages new mutations and can actually prolong pandemics as the virus constantly mutates to escape the protective effects of the vaccine.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutates
Verb
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This temperature shift changes everything for aerospace giant Airbus, which backed the project under its ZEST1 (Zero Emissions for Sustainable Transport) program.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
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The foundation changes the lives of children with cancer by funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer.—
CBS News Philadelphia Staff,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Tours typically end in a tasting room, where the experience varies widely from stop to stop.—
Lauren Schuster,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
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Research increasingly shows that the quantity and type of movement people need varies widely.—
Paula Chesley,
STAT,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Changing either of those factors measurably shifts the outcome.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
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Florida’s property tax system already shifts billions in property taxes from homesteads to non-homestead property.—
Jeff Kottkamp,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 June 2026
Verb
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This is why the healthiest couples remind themselves that attraction is something that fluctuates naturally.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
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The inherent value of some watches fluctuates on a daily basis because of the materials.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mutates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutates. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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