shape-shifter

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A being in stories that can change its body into another form, such as an animal or a person.

   Grammar: Countable: a shape-shifter, the shape-shifters.

   Patterns

   • a shape-shifter who does something

   In the legend, the wolf was really a shape-shifter.

   The hero fights a shape-shifter that can look like anyone.

   Many myths feature a shape-shifter that tricks travelers.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   A person who keeps changing their ideas, style or identity to suit the situation.

   Grammar: Countable and figurative: she is a real shape-shifter.

   Patterns

   • be a shape-shifter

   The politician is a shape-shifter who adopts whatever view is popular.

   She is a musical shape-shifter, changing style with every album.

Word forms

Common combinations

mythical shape-shifter

A mythical shape-shifter haunts the forest in the tale.

cunning shape-shifter

The cunning shape-shifter changed into a bird.

a political shape-shifter

Critics called him a political shape-shifter.

fantasy shape-shifter

The fantasy novel has a shape-shifter as the villain.

defeat a shape-shifter

The knights could not defeat the shape-shifter.

Synonyms and how they differ

changeling

A changeling is a creature left in place of a stolen child, not one that can change at will.

chameleon

Chameleon is mostly used for a person who adapts to fit in, while shape-shifter can be literal.

werewolf

A werewolf is a specific kind of shape-shifter that becomes a wolf.

turncoat

Turncoat means someone who betrays their side, not someone who changes form.

Opposites

Word family

shape noun

the outline or form of something

shift verb

to change position or form

shape-shifting noun

the ability to change form

shapeshift verb

to change form

Commonly confused: shape-shifter or shift worker?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “shape-shifter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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