1
as in modifications
a significant and basic change
The sculpture series underwent several mutations as the artist experimented with different materials and techniques.
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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.
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Recent Examples of mutations
Among the more unusual succulents Kent has are crested plants — mutations of plants that give them unusual shapes and other characteristics.
—
Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
But the mutations are so rare that no single research center had enough family members for a large study.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 7 May 2026
In one case, while redesigning a ribosomal protein called RpsJ, the AI remodeled an alpha helix—a structural element bridging different parts of the ribosome—and introduced eight new nearby mutations to compensate for the substitution of just two isoleucines.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2026
The cells were grown 400 generations and typically picked up 20–30 mutations, but none of those restored an isoleucine to any of the ribosomal proteins.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
Reaching more people Although Otarmeni treats mutations that make up about 1% to 3% of cases of genetic hearing loss at birth, doctors expect that the approval of the first gene therapy will spur more work and investment into the field, broadening treatment options in the future.
—Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
The Cicada variant has the potential to reduce protection from a vaccine or previous infection because of the number of mutations.
—Eva Flowe
april 20, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
Usually, these mistakes, called spontaneous mutations, don’t matter very much.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Health, 15 Apr. 2026
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
Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
But the mutations are so rare that no single research center had enough family members for a large study.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 7 May 2026
In one case, while redesigning a ribosomal protein called RpsJ, the AI remodeled an alpha helix—a structural element bridging different parts of the ribosome—and introduced eight new nearby mutations to compensate for the substitution of just two isoleucines.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2026
The cells were grown 400 generations and typically picked up 20–30 mutations, but none of those restored an isoleucine to any of the ribosomal proteins.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
Reaching more people Although Otarmeni treats mutations that make up about 1% to 3% of cases of genetic hearing loss at birth, doctors expect that the approval of the first gene therapy will spur more work and investment into the field, broadening treatment options in the future.
—Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
The Cicada variant has the potential to reduce protection from a vaccine or previous infection because of the number of mutations.
—Eva Flowe
april 20, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
Usually, these mistakes, called spontaneous mutations, don’t matter very much.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Health, 15 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutations
Noun
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The shift to an all-wheel park requires no construction modifications and would utilize separate sessions to maintain safety and maximize facility activity, city officials said.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
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WaiV Robotics’ system allows uncrewed aerial vehicles to launch and recover from vessels as small as 10 m long without requiring modifications to the drone’s hardware or software.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Law enforcement from the South Elgin Police Department and Fox Valley Major Crimes Task Force spent Thursday at a home in the 800 block of Revere Road after ground-penetrating radar found anomalies underground that police said warranted further investigation.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
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The massive rocket has encountered a number of anomalies and failures since its debut, including fiery explosions both on the test stand and mid-flight that have attracted plenty of headlines.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Noun
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In his first title race against Manchester City, there was a reluctance from the Arsenal boss to make changes at key moments that sapped momentum away from his side.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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Ignoring filter changes forces the system to work harder and may reduce indoor air quality over time, which affects both energy bills and comfort.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Stacking is the key to McCarthy's lunar imagery, enabling him to turn the subtle variations of color in an image of the moon into the rich browns and blues seen in his edits.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
9 May 2026
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Five color variations for men and six for women offer wide versatility, with stitched overlays not only adding to the '90s soccer style but also reinforcing areas that take the most impact.—
Kelsey Legg,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Many reviewers, including petite shoppers, note that the pants hit at just the right length without needing alterations, and the inseam works well with both flats and heels.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
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He was also not included in Villa’s Europa League squad, with the club only allowed to make three alterations ahead of the knockout phase, with January signings Tammy Abraham and Douglas Luiz, plus the return of Leon Bailey, included.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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The early results confirmed the fracturing of Britain's traditional two-party system into a multi-party democracy, in what analysts say represents one of the biggest transformations in British politics in the last century.—
Andrew MacAskill,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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The transformations are meant to render the pavilion into a building-sized Wardian case, a Victorian-era terrarium used to transport foreign plants across the British Empire.—
Harrison Jacobs,
ARTnews.com,
6 May 2026
Noun
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After a contentious four-hour-plus hearing, the city planning and zoning board voted 5-4 in support of a list of zoning waivers and exceptions that county officials say are essential for the project to move forward, but that was one vote short of the six-vote supermajority required for approval.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
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Members have one full year from the date of purchase to return items for a replacement or refund (there are a few exceptions).—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mutations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutations. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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