Definition of transformnext

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of transform are convert, metamorphose, transfigure, transmogrify, and transmute. While all these words mean "to change a thing into a different thing," transform implies a major change in form, nature, or function.

transformed a small company into a corporate giant

When would convert be a good substitute for transform?

The words convert and transform are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, convert implies a change fitting something for a new or different use or function.

converted the study into a nursery

When is metamorphose a more appropriate choice than transform?

While the synonyms metamorphose and transform are close in meaning, metamorphose suggests an abrupt or startling change induced by or as if by magic or a supernatural power.

awkward girls metamorphosed into graceful ballerinas

When is it sensible to use transfigure instead of transform?

The words transfigure and transform can be used in similar contexts, but transfigure implies a change that exalts or glorifies.

joy transfigured her face

When might transmogrify be a better fit than transform?

In some situations, the words transmogrify and transform are roughly equivalent. However, transmogrify suggests a strange or preposterous metamorphosis.

a story in which a frog is transmogrified into a prince

When can transmute be used instead of transform?

The synonyms transmute and transform are sometimes interchangeable, but transmute implies transforming into a higher element or thing.

attempted to transmute lead into gold

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 transform Inserting neutrons into the uranium mix forces some of them to transform into a more reactive material, such as the isotope plutonium-239. — Mike McRae 06, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026 If your fall reading list is long-winded, use this plush reading chair with playful ball feet to transform any empty corner into a cozy nook. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026 This is transforming enterprise AI from a technology initiative to an organizational one. — Kazuhiro Gomi, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Today, Beijing has transformed what was once a chronic vulnerability into a source of strength and begun to redraw the geopolitical map of its region. — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for transform
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transform
Verb
  • The system generates electrical power and converts it into a highly concentrated beam.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The proposition is to connect China’s factories with its creator economy; Black Lake’s agents bridge the gap by converting ideas into designs, a 3D simulation, and industrial data sent to a factory.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Inside, the kitchen was spacious and new, with lots of counter space and an island, and the bathrooms were remodeled.
    — Shannon Sims, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In 2001, the architecture critic and scholar Robin Middleton bought a former tile factory on East 13th Street and remodeled it to match his unconventional life.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • But the filmmaker’s imagination transfigures personal history into something not of this world, wholly original, and uniquely demented.
    — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
  • Altman is the defendant in the case brought by Musk, who’s claiming that OpenAI illegally betrayed the company’s non-profit founding by transfiguring into a for-profit company last year.
    — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • The regime transmuted its coercive force into political legitimacy through the spectacular destruction of dissident bodies, restoring reverence for the Eagle.
    — Abdelrahman ElGendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
  • From intimate moments to full-on sing-alongs, the night showcased talented women who transmute feelings into art and reminded everyone why Ella Mai’s music continues to resonate.
    — DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 26 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Transform.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transform. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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