alter vs modify

alter and modify both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
alter	No	No	Yes	No
modify	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, alter and modify are synonyms defined as:

alter and modify: cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

Other synonyms of alter include change.

As verbs, modify is a hypernym of alter; that is, modify is a word with a broader meaning than alter:

Other hypernyms of alter include alter, change.

alter (verb)	modify (verb)
remove the ovaries of	make less severe or harsh or extreme
become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence	add a modifier to a constituent
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation	cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
insert words into texts, often falsifying it thereby
make an alteration to