variation

noun

ˌver-ē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce variation (audio)
Definition of variationnext
1
as in interpretation
a distinct treatment of something (as a story or a play) the movie begins with a somewhat irreverent variation on the Nativity story

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in alteration
the act, process, or result of making different the latest in a long line of variations in her hair color

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 variation Simulation expands this experience by exposing robots to additional situations and variations before testing their skills on physical machines. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026 The Sunshine State demonstrates that a state can have a wide variation of followers and breakers of laws. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026 The German athletic brand has kept its classic Samba shoe hyper relevant by introducing new variations, such as its recent slip-on version. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026 There are certain whiskeys that are more about variation than consistency; Booker’s is one of them. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for variation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for variation
  1. interpretation
  2. alteration
  3. take
  4. difference
  5. version
  6. change
  7. modification
Noun
  • The Knight’s Tale children’s department will offer a playful interpretation of the British home, inspired by medieval castles and courts.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026
  • But the agent then inherits whatever semantics each system exposes, which is often very little, and fills the gaps with its own interpretation.
    — Felix Liao, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of interpretation
Noun
  • The past two games were played at the NBA Atlanta Hawks' State Farm Arena and brought in 17,000 fans for each thanks to some schedule alterations, compromise and cooperation from both Atlanta franchises.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • And, yes, this rendition represented a lyrical alteration by the Tonji that departed from the traditional wording of the French national anthem.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of alteration
Noun
  • Weaving every movement together are barely perceptible particles that make your ears blink and double-take—bubbles, dolphin gurgles, memory chips fidgeting, sprites hiccuping.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Our take is that every story in the Weekly World News is true.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of take
Noun
  • Gallup found no difference in scam victimization rates by age, and experienced professionals have been duped as well.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The old boy was perfectly reasonable, explaining the difference between federal reimbursement and state reimbursement, and the speed that agencies move on the different levels.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of difference
Noun
  • The year before, Milton Reynolds had discovered the pen while visiting Buenos Aires, and rushed home to create his own version, the Reynolds Rocket, which hit stores on October 29, 1945.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The more self-consciously operatic versions aren’t necessarily closer to the composer’s intentions.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of version
Noun
  • These changes were intended to support the long-distance challenge, which required multiple crossings rather than a single uninterrupted run in one direction.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Rest of World received some critical acclaim and broke several stories that prompted global policy changes, including its reporting on Uber Eats in South Africa and on mapping in rural Borneo.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of change
Noun
  • An incident at one attraction can lead to inspections or modifications at similar rides elsewhere.
    — Dennis Speigel, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • From a chemist’s first search to the perfumer’s modification exploration, there are years and millions of dollars of research before the customer gets wind of anything happening.
    — Arabelle Sicardi, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of modification

Browse Nearby Words

variants
variation
variations
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Cite this Entry

“Variation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/variation. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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