alteration

noun

ˌȯl-tə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce alteration (audio)
Definition of alterationnext
as in change
the act, process, or result of making different there's been an alteration in the intended route of our bird walk

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 alteration Adding the verses violated MLB rules banning uniform alterations, and the players involved received verbal warnings but were not fined or penalized. — Matt Moret, New York Times, 19 June 2026 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. — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 30 June 2026 In order to have aqueous alteration there needs to be some internal heating [usually via radioactive elements] and if something forms later than everything else then there will be less heat [since many of the radioactive elements will have already decayed]. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 19 June 2026 The key difference is that rather than suggesting preset visuals, the AI Camera Assistant is ostensibly reacting to the scene, subject, and lighting to dynamically suggest the best alterations for that specific moment — that’s the AI of it all. — Dominic Preston, The Verge, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for alteration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alteration
  1. change
  2. difference
  3. modification
Noun
  • Prices are subject to rapid, unpredictable changes due to factors like, but not limited to, supply/demand, weather, and geopolitical events.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Valerie Castile spoke Monday night about many changes inspired by her son’s death.
    — Tyler Quattrin, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026
Definition of change
Noun
  • There may be some differences between the audio and the text.
    — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Heavy Cream The biggest difference between half-and-half and heavy cream is the amount of fat.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
Definition of difference
Noun
  • The modification also attracted the attention of his HOA, which filed a lawsuit.
    — Michele Gile, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • 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.
    — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of modification

Browse Nearby Words

alterable
alteration
alterations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alteration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alteration. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on alteration

Nglish: Translation of alteration for Spanish Speakers

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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All