Synonym Chooser

How is the word transform different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of transform are convert, metamorphose, transfigure, transmogrify, and transmute. While all these words mean "to change a thing into a different thing," transform implies a major change in form, nature, or function.

transformed a small company into a corporate giant

When would convert be a good substitute for transform?

The words convert and transform are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, convert implies a change fitting something for a new or different use or function.

converted the study into a nursery

When is metamorphose a more appropriate choice than transform?

While the synonyms metamorphose and transform are close in meaning, metamorphose suggests an abrupt or startling change induced by or as if by magic or a supernatural power.

awkward girls metamorphosed into graceful ballerinas

When is it sensible to use transfigure instead of transform?

The words transfigure and transform can be used in similar contexts, but transfigure implies a change that exalts or glorifies.

joy transfigured her face

When might transmogrify be a better fit than transform?

In some situations, the words transmogrify and transform are roughly equivalent. However, transmogrify suggests a strange or preposterous metamorphosis.

a story in which a frog is transmogrified into a prince

When can transmute be used instead of transform?

The synonyms transmute and transform are sometimes interchangeable, but transmute implies transforming into a higher element or thing.

attempted to transmute lead into gold

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 transform Ultimately, recurring ear pain triggered the Ukrainian singer to undergo a double jaw surgery in March 2025 – one that has transformed her both physically and mentally. Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 11 May 2025 But not Mustafa Rashed, who is transforming how people view midlife fitness after investing in his health. Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025 Visitors any other day of the week will be surprised to learn that come Friday, The Blue Coconut transforms into one of the weekly Filthy Friday bar crawl stops, a wild island-hopping party that draws backpackers to some of the islands' most boisterous bars and clubs. Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2025 The venerable yet forward-thinking nature of MIC has demonstrated how modern incubators can remain relevant in the process of transforming promising, high-growth ventures into market leaders. Jon Stojan, USA Today, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for transform
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transform
Verb
  • Last March, Jost and Davidson’s business partner Ron Castellano noted that their plans are still underway for a potentially $34 million project to convert the vessel into a floating entertainment complex complete with bars, restaurants and possibly a hotel.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 3 May 2025
  • What started as a project to convert a collection of warehouses owned by the Alserkal family into art galleries has become a vibrant art district that hosted some of the most talked about cultural events during their Alserkal Art Week, which ran just before Art Dubai.
    Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • Between deciding how to split bills, who takes out the trash, and when to remodel the kitchen, deciding how to decorate your new place can feel like an afterthought.
    Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2025
  • List of Walmart locations to undergo remodeling in five US states Walmart shared a list of stores that will be remodeled across five U.S. states: North Carolina, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In each instance, the duties of the office transfigured the man into a sign and symbol of hope in the face of death.
    The Editors, National Review, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The result was, if not a religious experience, then a spiritually transfiguring one.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • This is teen sexuality as postmodern spectacle: a mishmash of transgressive allusions transmuted into a product that can’t possibly be interpreted as serious.
    Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
  • At this hot cocoon, the researchers suggest the jet's high-energy photons can interact with atomic nuclei, transmuting protons to neutrons incredibly quickly — on the order of a nanosecond.
    Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Transform.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transform. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on transform

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!