ADAPT Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'adapt' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of adapt are accommodate , adjust , conform , and reconcile . While all these words mean "to bring one thing into correspondence with another," adapt implies a modification according to changing circumstances. // adapted themselves to the warmer climate

Q: Where would 'accommodate' be a reasonable alternative to 'adapt'?

The synonyms accommodate and adapt are sometimes interchangeable, but accommodate may suggest yielding or compromising to effect a correspondence. // accommodated his political beliefs in order to win

Q: When can 'adjust' be used instead of 'adapt'?

The meanings of adjust and adapt largely overlap; however, adjust suggests bringing into a close and exact correspondence or harmony such as exists between parts of a mechanism. // adjusted the budget to allow for inflation

Q: In what contexts can 'conform' take the place of 'adapt'?

In some situations, the words conform and adapt are roughly equivalent. However, conform applies to bringing into accordance with a pattern, example, or principle. // refused to conform to society's values

Q: When is it sensible to use 'reconcile' instead of 'adapt'?

While in some cases nearly identical to adapt , reconcile implies the demonstration of the underlying compatibility of things that seem to be incompatible. // tried to reconcile what he said with what I knew

adapt

verb

ə-ˈdapt

Definition of adapt

as in to adjust

to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation it always takes freshmen a little while to adapt themselves to high school

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

misadjust

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How does the verb adapt contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of adapt are accommodate, adjust, conform, and reconcile. While all these words mean "to bring one thing into correspondence with another," adapt implies a modification according to changing circumstances.

adapted themselves to the warmer climate

Where would accommodate be a reasonable alternative to adapt?

The synonyms accommodate and adapt are sometimes interchangeable, but accommodate may suggest yielding or compromising to effect a correspondence.

accommodated his political beliefs in order to win

When can adjust be used instead of adapt?

The meanings of adjust and adapt largely overlap; however, adjust suggests bringing into a close and exact correspondence or harmony such as exists between parts of a mechanism.

adjusted the budget to allow for inflation

In what contexts can conform take the place of adapt?

In some situations, the words conform and adapt are roughly equivalent. However, conform applies to bringing into accordance with a pattern, example, or principle.

refused to conform to society's values

When is it sensible to use reconcile instead of adapt?

While in some cases nearly identical to adapt, reconcile implies the demonstration of the underlying compatibility of things that seem to be incompatible.

tried to reconcile what he said with what I knew

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 adapt Additionally, Stern will adapt his live SiriusXM show into a streamable episode for HBO Max, alongside extras. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026 The interview was adapted for the web by Majd Al-Waheidi and edited by Suzanne Nuyen. — A Martínez, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026 They will be adapted into streamable episodes made available on HBO Max three days later, along with periodic extras. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026 Ukraine must now adapt its defenses against this high volume of FPV drones. — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for adapt

Recent Examples of Synonyms for adapt

Verb

As serotonin remains active longer, the brain adjusts by desensitizing some receptors.

— Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Teams cross multiple time zones, adjust practice and sleep schedules and play at a neutral site far from their normal routines.

— Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of adjust

Verb

With Mike McDaniel tailoring an offense around him, and Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle offering lethal receiver targets, Tagovailoa threw 73 touchdowns, compared with 29 interceptions, over those three seasons.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
District 6 Councilwoman Kimberly Owens suggested CMPD write that promise into the language of the law, tailoring the curfew to explicitly focus on gatherings of a certain size.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of tailor

Verb

All of the windows—and even the kitchen island and the couple’s bed platform—conform to the same dimensions.

— Sean Santiago, Architectural Digest, 24 Aug. 2026
Joby has flown its first FAA-conforming aircraft and entered the final stage of type certification.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of conform

Verb

The Runway desk has an agnostic look—something that thankfully suits your ever-evolving design tastes.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
Governments generally don’t need a model that’s as powerful as what’s on the frontier to automate a few tasks; Ting explains that a tiny model, even one with as few as 1 billion parameters, can suit those purposes.

— Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of suit

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“Adapt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adapt. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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