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Trivia Time
In Greek mythology, which shape-shifting sea god could alter his appearance at will?

alter

[awl-ter] / ΛˆΙ”l tΙ™r /




Usage

What is another way to say alter? To alter is to make some partial change, as in appearance, while still preserving the identity: to alter a dress, as by raising the hem (to change a dress would mean to put on a different one). To change is to make a material difference so that something is distinctly different from what it was: to change one's opinion. 

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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However, neither of these proposed approaches has been tested in this context for preventing cognitive decline, and researchers do not yet know whether changing brain activity would alter the course of Alzheimer's disease.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 14, 2026

Such an extreme weakening of the magnetic field can alter the paths followed by these electrons, causing them to drift away from their usual orbits.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2026

The broken promises will likely alter the dynamic heading into Shenzhen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026

Australia were found to have used sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2026

“You’re gonna tell them the truth, then I’m gonna alter their memories. Are your parents tea or coffee people?”

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

In that scene, Rhys Harries impressively alters his own features without makeup.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

Any analysis that requires drilling or removing part of a specimen permanently alters an object that cannot be replaced.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

Whether the latest upswing in crude prices alters their longer-term outlook remains to be seen, as Brent’s return to triple digits sends government bond yields higher.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

In her version, Bernhard alters the lyrics to pay tribute to Sylvester, whose untimely death left an immense legacy.

From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026

We have all traveled far to get to this place, though this place alter as our camp alters from shore to ship and our ship shifts on its anchor cable.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

It’s genuinely lovely—and I also can’t stop thinking about the invisible fingerprints left by the unnamed censor on our slightly altered text.

From Slate ● Nov. 14, 2026

The timeline indicates that Nvidia altered its methodology for reporting the geographic breakdown of its revenue shortly after placing Megaspeed International on an internal block list.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

But in the two decades since it ended, views about the show and what is and is not acceptable to joke about have radically altered.

From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2026

Now, according to Caltrans’ letters, a few of them could be forced to come down or be altered.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2026

Notice in particular the relationship of the altered notes in the harmonic, melodic, and dorian minors.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

The form of censorship that affected our book is in some ways more insidious, subtly altering the text in ways that most readers would never notice.

From Slate ● Nov. 14, 2026

The former Board of Public Works member suggested that altering the five-member panel should have been its own item, saying, “The longer the paragraphs are, the fewer words the public will read.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

Common suggestions include eliminating the income-tax cap, raising the full retirement age, implementing new taxation avenues or altering the cost-of-living adjustment in an effort to boost revenue for the program.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

Rather than simply illuminating a specimen, the laser interacts directly with the microscope's electron beam, altering its phase to increase image contrast.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

He may do this methodically, or he may do it unconsciously by preserving the individuals most useful to him at the time, without any thought of altering the breed....

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan


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