Modifying

Synonyms for "modifying" (81 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (17)

Verb(2 words)
Adjective(2 words)
attributive databiasing factor

Strong matches (24)

Noun(20 words)
changeschangingchanging systemcivil historyclarifyingconfigurablecustomizecustomizingdescriberdescribingdescriptivedescriptive participledescriptordna editingeditingfunctionalizinggene editinggenetic engineeringgenetic modificationgovernment form

Related words (40)

Noun(21 words)
midterm biology exammodificationmodifiernormative jurisprudenceparticipial adjectivephysical chemistriesplanning education taskqualifierqualifier termqualifyingqualifying term phraserecipe modificationrefiningrestrictingrestrictiverevisingspecifyingsplintingtailortuning
Show 1 more word
Adjective(4 words)
qualifying term clauseschool timetable adjustmentsubstantiating claimstransformational

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: adaptation, adapting, adjust, adjustable, adjusting.
  • Sentence evidence is available for modifying, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, opengloss, moby.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "modifying".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "modifying"

Keep "modifying" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "modifying" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "modifying", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "modifying" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

14 entries
biotech processchangecharacteristicdescriptiondescriptive elementdescriptorgenetic changegrammar elementgrammatical termlinguistics featuremodifierprocesspropertytransformation

More specific

29 entries
CRISPR editingadaptingadjectival participleadjectiveadjective clauseadjective phraseadjustable settingadjustingadverbial phrasebase editingcalibrationconfigurable optiondata editingdescriptive termeditinggene editing

Showing 16 of 29 words.

Collocations

14 entries
data modifying stepgene modifying techniquemodifying actionmodifying clausemodifying datamodifying factormodifying factorsmodifying instructionsmodifying phrasemodifying planmodifying recipemodifying schedulemodifying textmodifying variables

Inflections

4 entries
modifiedmodifiesmore modifyingmost modifying

Derivations

7 entries

Sample sentences

3 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

I dreamt this early morning about conlanging, specifically modifying Esperanto, so that I would replace the letter J with the letter Î, and I would add Japanese vocables. My cousin Eileen was in the dream, and she thought that I should not pursue the project.

Source: tatoeba (9473703)

Matthew enjoys modifying recipes to suit his own taste.

Source: tatoeba (11590339)

Nature may have developed that edible storage organ, called a tuber, by modifying genes known to be present in other members of the potato family.

Source: tatoeba (12026547)

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "modifying"?

Closest matches include adaptation, adapting, adjust, adjustable, adjusting.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "modifying"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "modifying"