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
Relevance
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
Furthermore, as agentic systems find incredibly narrow advantages, the requirements needed to fulfill all those variations quickly outstrip human ability to imagine them.
—
Phoena Pang,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
North and South Carolina span roughly 86,000 square miles, across which there are probably just as many barbecue sauce variations.
—
Amethyst Ganaway,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 July 2026
To evaluate claims of unfair advantages, strangers may request hormone or genetic testing to look for common biological variations that cisgender children and their parents may not even be aware of.
—
Megan Gandy,
The Conversation,
1 July 2026
The sample was selected by The New York Times in multiple steps to account for differential telephone coverage, nonresponse and significant variation in the productivity of telephone numbers by state.
—
New York Times,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for variation
Phoena Pang,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
North and South Carolina span roughly 86,000 square miles, across which there are probably just as many barbecue sauce variations.
—
Amethyst Ganaway,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 July 2026
To evaluate claims of unfair advantages, strangers may request hormone or genetic testing to look for common biological variations that cisgender children and their parents may not even be aware of.
—
Megan Gandy,
The Conversation,
1 July 2026
The sample was selected by The New York Times in multiple steps to account for differential telephone coverage, nonresponse and significant variation in the productivity of telephone numbers by state.
—
New York Times,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for variation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for variation
Noun
-
Altitude can also produce meaningfully different interpretations of the grape—higher sites can create wines that are more mineral and tense, while other locations yield softer and more fragrant expressions.
-
The skinny trouser re-emerged at Dior and Junya Watanabe, styled with larger proportions on top for a fresh interpretation of the silhouette.
Noun
-
The Fish and Wildlife Service says habitat alteration has reduced its range and abundance, because the butterflies need specific food plants and places to live and grow during critical stages of their life cycle.
-
This data can be helpful in tracking changes in body composition due to alterations in patient diet, exercise level, or drug treatments.
Noun
-
The news comes in advance of the September 23 Prime Video premiere of the feature take of Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis, which stars Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman.
-
The aircraft, used by a parachuting school and carrying five trainee parachutists and five instructors, went down shortly after take-off from Nancy-Essey airport, officials said.
Noun
-
Hobbs said the difference is that federal agencies often warned states of threats before attacks occurred.
-
Aside from resting starters, getting players off the bench for valuable time on the pitch could be the difference as the competition gets tougher.
Noun
-
The additional diamonds have been removed, while the band was replaced with a pavé version.
-
The previous version of the bill had garnered strong bipartisan support in the 80-person Assembly, passing out of the chamber with 76 votes in favor of it.
Noun
-
But that requires several changes to state law and the Colorado Constitution requires ballot measures address only one subject.
-
Consider rearranging a corner of your home, because practical changes can lift your mood and productivity.
Noun
-
The modification also attracted the attention of his HOA, which filed a lawsuit.
-
Specifically, policymakers cite the importance of more preventive care in addition to lifestyle modifications such as a better diet and more exercise that improve health independent of healthcare provision.
Cite this Entry
“Variation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/variation. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
