Alter
Alter verb - To make different in some way.
Usage example: can't you alter your plans just slightly so we can leave 10 minutes earlier?
Modify is a synonym for alter in change topic. In some cases you can use "Modify" instead a verb "Alter", when it comes to topics like activity, behaviour, adjust, transform. popular alternative
Modify
Modify verb - To limit the meaning of (as a noun).
Usage example: adjectives are words that modify nouns, while adverbs can modify adjectives and verbs
Alter is a synonym for modify in change topic. You can use "Alter" instead a verb "Modify", if it concerns topics such as activity, behaviour, process, adjust. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
| body | alter body | modify body |
| appearance | alter appearance | modify appearance |
| structure | alter structure | modify structure |
| environment | alter environment | modify environment |
| Other words: time, flow, way, face, shape, plan, personality, world, game, story, past, reality, behavior, rules, objects, powers, bodies, memories, abilities, stats. | ||
Both words in one sentence
-
To date, she has held off on surgery to remove the tumor because the procedure would alter her nasal cavity and thus permanently modify her voice.
Source: Creator / Aya Hirano -
Body Horror: In order to hack and modify her own neural configurations to alter things such as her personality and emotions, Stem Cell had to pop out one of her own eyes with a screwdriver.
Source: Comic Book / Livewires - In addition to the standard screaming, they could alter their throats to mimic any sound, or sounds, use the vibrations in their voice to hypnotize or persuade, and modify their ears to enhance their hearing.
Cite this Source
Modify and Alter. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/alter/modify
Alter & Modify. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/alter/modify>.
Modify or Alter. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/alter/modify.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "alter" and "modify" have occurred on timeline