diff --git a/bayesflow/adapters/adapter.py b/bayesflow/adapters/adapter.py
index 0e1c68466..e6b898d87 100644
--- a/bayesflow/adapters/adapter.py
+++ b/bayesflow/adapters/adapter.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from collections.abc import Callable, Sequence
+from collections.abc import Callable, MutableSequence, Sequence
 
 import numpy as np
 from keras.saving import (
@@ -25,17 +25,16 @@
     ToArray,
     Transform,
 )
-
 from .transforms.filter_transform import Predicate
 
 
 @serializable(package="bayesflow.adapters")
-class Adapter:
+class Adapter(MutableSequence[Transform]):
     def __init__(self, transforms: Sequence[Transform] | None = None):
         if transforms is None:
             transforms = []
 
-        self.transforms = transforms
+        self.transforms = list(transforms)
 
     @staticmethod
     def create_default(inference_variables: Sequence[str]) -> "Adapter":
@@ -76,12 +75,70 @@ def __call__(self, data: dict[str, any], *, inverse: bool = False, **kwargs) ->
         return self.forward(data, **kwargs)
 
     def __repr__(self):
-        return f"Adapter([{' -> '.join(map(repr, self.transforms))}])"
+        result = ""
+        for i, transform in enumerate(self):
+            result += f"{i}: {transform!r}"
+            if i != len(self) - 1:
+                result += " -> "
+
+        return f"Adapter([{result}])"
+
+    # list methods
+
+    def append(self, value: Transform) -> "Adapter":
+        self.transforms.append(value)
+        return self
+
+    def __delitem__(self, key: int | slice):
+        del self.transforms[key]
+
+    def extend(self, values: Sequence[Transform]) -> "Adapter":
+        if isinstance(values, Adapter):
+            values = values.transforms
+
+        self.transforms.extend(values)
+
+        return self
+
+    def __getitem__(self, item: int | slice) -> "Adapter":
+        if isinstance(item, int):
+            return self.transforms[item]
+
+        return Adapter(self.transforms[item])
+
+    def insert(self, index: int, value: Transform | Sequence[Transform]) -> "Adapter":
+        if isinstance(value, Adapter):
+            value = value.transforms
+
+        if isinstance(value, Sequence):
+            # convenience: Adapters are always flat
+            self.transforms = self.transforms[:index] + list(value) + self.transforms[index:]
+        else:
+            self.transforms.insert(index, value)
+
+        return self
+
+    def __setitem__(self, key: int | slice, value: Transform | Sequence[Transform]) -> "Adapter":
+        if isinstance(value, Adapter):
+            value = value.transforms
+
+        if isinstance(key, int) and isinstance(value, Sequence):
+            if key < 0:
+                key += len(self.transforms)
+
+            key = slice(key, key + 1)
+
+        self.transforms[key] = value
 
-    def add_transform(self, transform: Transform):
-        self.transforms.append(transform)
         return self
 
+    def __len__(self):
+        return len(self.transforms)
+
+    # adapter methods
+
+    add_transform = append
+
     def apply(
         self,
         *,