VARY Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'vary' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of vary are alter , change , and modify . While all these words mean "to make or become different," vary stresses a breaking away from sameness, duplication, or exact repetition. // vary your daily routine

Q: When is 'alter' a more appropriate choice than 'vary'?

While the synonyms alter and vary are close in meaning, alter implies a difference in some particular respect without suggesting loss of identity. // slightly altered the original design

Q: When is it sensible to use 'change' instead of 'vary'?

The words change and vary can be used in similar contexts, but change implies making either an essential difference often amounting to a loss of original identity or a substitution of one thing for another. // changed the shirt for a larger size

Q: When might 'modify' be a better fit than 'vary'?

The synonyms modify and vary are sometimes interchangeable, but modify suggests a difference that limits, restricts, or adapts to a new purpose. // modified the building for use by the disabled

vary

verb

ˈver-ē

Definition of vary

as in to differ

to be unlike; to not be the same opinions by experts on the subject vary

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to change

to make different in some way varied the method occasionally for the sake of experimentation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to range

to occur within a continuous range of variation the appliance store is offering discounts that vary from 10 to 40 percent, depending upon the brand

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to shift

to pass from one form, state, or level to another terrain that constantly varied as we traveled from the coast to the interior

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word vary different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of vary are alter, change, and modify. While all these words mean "to make or become different," vary stresses a breaking away from sameness, duplication, or exact repetition.

vary your daily routine

When is alter a more appropriate choice than vary?

While the synonyms alter and vary are close in meaning, alter implies a difference in some particular respect without suggesting loss of identity.

slightly altered the original design

When is it sensible to use change instead of vary?

The words change and vary can be used in similar contexts, but change implies making either an essential difference often amounting to a loss of original identity or a substitution of one thing for another.

changed the shirt for a larger size

When might modify be a better fit than vary?

The synonyms modify and vary are sometimes interchangeable, but modify suggests a difference that limits, restricts, or adapts to a new purpose.

modified the building for use by the disabled

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 vary Beyond the capital, Sweden’s cities vary considerably in character and geography. — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Chami noted that the price for working with content creators varies from $250-$1,000 per post, and justified rates that are on the higher end of the spectrum. — Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Estimates vary on exactly how much oil is leaking through, but the upshot is the volumes are substantial albeit still well short of normal. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026 Where they are precisely located is more of a question, with transparency varying by jurisdiction. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vary

Verb

As with software, the features that optimize for agents differ significantly from the intricate features of modern internet sites built for human use.

— George C. Lee II, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Sure enough, Heyward and Freeman headed south that day — still driving separately because of their differing morning routines.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of differ

Verb

Dodgers’ brass has refrained from dipping into its robust pool of outfield prospects, but the open roster spot could change their thinking.

— Katie Woo, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Unlocking the true nature of dark energy and dark matter could help astronomers understand what the universe is made of, how its expansion has changed over time, and if there is more to understanding gravity than meets the eye.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of change

Verb

At the same time, the house next door to us was sold to a family with six children, ranging in age from newborn to 10 years old.

— R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
With temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal and dew points in the low to mid-60s through Tuesday, heat index values will range from 95 to 102 degrees, the weather service said.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of range

Verb

But Boone removed him from the lineup before the top of the fourth, shifting José Caballero to shortstop and bringing in Amed Rosario to play third base.

— Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Monthly sales at Poppy Rose have climbed from roughly $30,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars since the business shifted from Etsy to TikTok Shop and adopted print-on-demand.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of shift

Verb

Otherwise, projects would be denied or required to modify plans to accommodate existing oak woodland.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Algorithms already select information, rank information, recommend information, personalize information and can participate in modifying what human beings see, believe, buy, discuss or pay attention to.

— Hamilton Mann, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of modify

Verb

Since the cash creators earn from views on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook can fluctuate, affiliate links offer more consistent income.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026
That’s why bond prices can fluctuate between the date of purchase and maturity.

— Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of fluctuate

Verb

Johanna Mayer said admissions ultimately came in below 20,000, but stressed that the result had not altered the company’s commitment to Pálmason.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
The Norwegian Constitution was altered in 1990 to allow future firstborns — regardless of gender — to take precedence in the line of succession.

— Jan M. Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of alter

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varnishing

vary

varying

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

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Synonyms of vary

verb

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