Here's some ways. Using: l = {1+2*s,2+3*s,4+1*s}; slist = {1, 2, 3}; The answer closest to what you asked is {1 + 2*s, 2 + 3*s, 4 + 1*s} /. s -> slist // Diagonal However, that does `3^2 - 3` too many calculations, so here's some more ways. Module[{i = 1}, l /. s :> slist[[i++]]] MapThread[#1 /. s -> #2 &, {l, slist}] MapThread[ReplaceAll, {l, Thread[s -> slist]}] ReplaceAll @@@ Transpose[{l, Thread[s -> slist]}] Map[First@#1 /. s -> Last@#1 &, Transpose@{l, slist}] MapIndexed[#1 /. s -> slist[[First@#2]] &, l] If `s` is always going to be the list `{1, 2, 3, ...}`, then: MapIndexed[#1 /. s -> First@#2 &, l]