1
as in modifications
a significant and basic change
The sculpture series underwent several mutations as the artist experimented with different materials and techniques.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in anomalies
something that is a result of a change in the genes of a plant or animal
This coloration in the bird's plumage is a rare mutation.
Related 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 mutations
Protein language models, which are AI systems trained on millions of natural protein sequences, can quickly predict how mutations will change a protein’s behavior or design new proteins.
—
Stephen D. Turner, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026
The team used an Alzheimer’s mouse model that includes human familial mutations and develops early signs of the condition.
—Brianna Abbott, STAT, 7 Apr. 2026
Still, Khamsi’s emphasis on the beneficial aspects of somatic mutations is one of the most striking elements of her book.
—Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
For example, mutations in myosin genes involved in inner ear function can cause hereditary hearing loss, as these proteins are essential for the proper operation of sensory hair cells.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2026
Over time, this can lead to cellular DNA damage or mutations that can cause cancer.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
The variant is a member of the Omicron family and is highly mutated, with 70 to 75 mutations.
—Sandra Temko, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
People with Lynch syndrome have mutations in the genes that normally fix DNA replication errors, preventing them from working properly, the CDC states.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Advertisement Such lingering may in fact have led to the evolution of new strains of SARS-CoV-2, with viruses accumulating new mutations during a stay in an unwitting human host.
—Veronique Greenwood, Time, 25 Mar. 2026
Stephen D. Turner, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026
The team used an Alzheimer’s mouse model that includes human familial mutations and develops early signs of the condition.
—Brianna Abbott, STAT, 7 Apr. 2026
Still, Khamsi’s emphasis on the beneficial aspects of somatic mutations is one of the most striking elements of her book.
—Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
For example, mutations in myosin genes involved in inner ear function can cause hereditary hearing loss, as these proteins are essential for the proper operation of sensory hair cells.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2026
Over time, this can lead to cellular DNA damage or mutations that can cause cancer.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
The variant is a member of the Omicron family and is highly mutated, with 70 to 75 mutations.
—Sandra Temko, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
People with Lynch syndrome have mutations in the genes that normally fix DNA replication errors, preventing them from working properly, the CDC states.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Advertisement Such lingering may in fact have led to the evolution of new strains of SARS-CoV-2, with viruses accumulating new mutations during a stay in an unwitting human host.
—Veronique Greenwood, Time, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutations
Noun
-
After winning modifications to the ballot label to remove argumentative and prejudicial language, taxpayers are suing the measure proponents over their ballot argument.—
Jon Coupal,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, people’s taste in car modifications varies wildly depending on a whole host of factors, with geography being a big one.—
Caleb Jacobs,
The Drive,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Kawamura and the production designer Ryo Sugimoto have tweaked and expanded upon the game’s spare visual elements, updating, among other objects, the wall posters where several of the trickiest anomalies lie.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
People demand consistent application of laws that are riddled with subjective anomalies, then bemoan a lack of common sense whenever an official dares to interpret a rule too literally.—
Graham Scott,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The City Council voted 5-1 to approve the future use changes, and to approve the rezoning.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The Hickman Mills School District is currently about $14 million in debt, a figure which district leaders attribute partly to financial mismanagement and partly to recent changes to the Jackson County property tax assessment cycle.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There will be seasonal vegetable variations too.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
-
To trace the solar events that caused these auroras, Miyahara and her colleagues looked for spikes of telltale atomic variations trapped in 13th-century tree rings, using Medieval literature to guide their search.—
Jacek Krywko,
Scientific American,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The review stage has now arrived, with three meetings now scheduled for the coming weeks that should define what will change for F1 in 2026 and lay the groundwork for greater alterations from 2027.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The total cost, beyond the dramatic, narrative, legal, and emotional alterations?—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Like most other variants, the symptoms of the Cicada variant are the same as those of other COVID-19 variant infections.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2026
-
New variants include the TMP era variant and STO era variant, as well as a remaster of the TOS era variant.—
David Jagneaux,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Sabrina Carpenter said goodbye to her bouncy golden-blonde curls and hello to one of her most drastic hair transformations to date.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The region’s transformations attracted migrants from all over the nation and the world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The ordinance, unanimously adopted by the City Council on March 17, clamps down on height exceptions for residential buildings and revises the process for considering high-volume drive-thru restaurants, to allow for more council oversight.—
Rose Evans
April 12,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Apr. 2026
-
All meals and drinks (with some exceptions; see below) are included on Evrima.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mutations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutations. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
