"Can you tell?" she asked, in a trembling but well modulated and sensual voice.
Source: wiktionary
Modulate
/ˈmɒd͡ʒɪleɪt/
Synonyms for "modulate" (205 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (41)
Strong matches (62)
Noun(11 words)
climate regulatingdanish stilhed toneeducational tunefrench regulergategatesgene regulatedhormone signaling controlinflectingmanipulate chemicallymod
Adjective(1 words)
dynamic sea surface
Related words (102)
modifymutatenarrowobtundoverthrowpalliateplay downproportionqualifyre createre-createrealignrebuildreconstructredesignreducereduce the temperaturerefitreformregulate
Show 54 more words
regulate byrelaxremakerenewreshaperestrainrestrictrestructurerevamprevivering the changesseasonsetset conditionsset limitsshiftshift the sceneshuffle the cardsslackenslow downsmothersobersober downsoftenstiflesubduesubvertsuppressswervetacktake a turntake the edge offtametempertone downtunetune downturnturn asideturn intoturn over a new leafturn the cornerturn the scaleturn the tablesturn the tideturn upside downundergo a changeunderplayvaryveerwarpweakenwork a changeworsen
Noun(14 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: regulate, tone, abate, accommodate, adapt.
- Sentence evidence is available for modulate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
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 "modulate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "modulate"
Keep "modulate" 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 "modulate" 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 "modulate", 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 "modulate" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
19 entriesadjustalterchangecommunicationcontrolcorrectexpressionmodifymouthplayregulationsetsignal processing operationspeakspieltalk
Showing 16 of 19 words.
More specific
7 entriesamplitude modulationbrightness controlemotional modulationfrequency modulationphase modulationvocal modulationvolume adjustment
Collocations
6 entriesmodulate brightnessmodulate frequencymodulate intensitymodulate signalmodulate temperaturemodulate volume
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesTranslations
17 translations across 13 languages.
Bulgarian
2 entries- променям verb (to regulate)
- регулирам verb (to regulate)
Catalan
1 entries- modular verb (to regulate)
Danish
2 entries- modulere verb (to regulate)
- regulere verb (to regulate)
Finnish
1 entries- säännellä verb (to regulate)
French
1 entries- moduler verb (to regulate)
German
1 entries- modulieren verb (to regulate)
Italian
1 entries- modulare verb (to regulate)
Māori
1 entries- whakaauau verb (to regulate)
Polish
2 entries- modulować verb (to regulate)
- zmodulować verb (to regulate)
Portuguese
1 entries- modular verb (to regulate)
Russian
1 entries- модулировать verb (to regulate)
Slovene
2 entries- regulirati verb (to regulate)
- uravnati verb (to regulate)
Spanish
1 entries- modular verb (to regulate)
Sample sentences
1 total sentences available.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "modulate"?
Closest matches include regulate, tone, abate, accommodate, adapt.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "modulate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.