1
as in relative
being such only when compared to something else
the movie's an approximate success, if you can overlook the overblown publicity that preceded it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in approximative
not precisely correct
police could only give us an approximate count of the number of people who attended the air show
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to reflect
to come near or nearer to in character or quality
Rob's violin performance last night didn't even approximate what he's really capable of when he's not feeling sick
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of approximate
Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
In comparison, the Biden administration's approximate 52,334 arrests included 56 percent with criminal convictions, 28 percent with pending criminal charges, and 16 percent with no criminal charges.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 25 June 2025
Only Pau Gasol, who won second-team All-Euroleague honors at 19 in 2001, could approximate it.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Adjective
The attendance was a far cry from the approximate 800 who attended the first all-staff meeting helmed by Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford at Old Trafford in January 2024.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
In comparison, the Biden administration's approximate 52,334 arrests included 56 percent with criminal convictions, 28 percent with pending criminal charges, and 16 percent with no criminal charges.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
To approximate sleep time, the scientists recorded how long each individual spent quietly lying still in these nests in each instance.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 25 June 2025
Only Pau Gasol, who won second-team All-Euroleague honors at 19 in 2001, could approximate it.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximate
Adjective
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That’s strange, since most people are usually there to work on their laptops or check their phones in relative tranquility.—
Bruce Dorminey,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
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His handling of immigration remains a relative bright spot with this age group.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Promotional rates reflect discounts for Autopay and paperless billing.—
Kara McGinley,
USA Today,
19 Aug. 2025
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The attention to detail extended beyond makeup to costume design and set decoration, reflecting the production’s ambitious scope.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But Israel rejected the findings, calling them biased and inaccurate and accusing Hamas of stealing aid.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
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In its public posting of their offer, the teachers union said the school board has impeded progress of negotiations and spread inaccurate information about the union’s proposal.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Photographers are asked to respect dark-sky locations, use light responsibly and present an authentic night-sky experience by being transparent about editing, labeling composite images and ensuring the sky matches the geographic location of the foreground.—
Leslie Katz,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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Even the rules are changing, with sets played to four games instead of six until Wednesday’s final, no-Ad scoring, and match tiebreakers instead of a third set.—
Howard Fendrich,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In high-stakes environments, this tendency toward overreliance is particularly dangerous: Users may accept incorrect AI suggestions, especially if delivered with apparent confidence.—
David Autor,
The Atlantic,
24 Aug. 2025
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No other incorrect packaging has been discovered or reported to date.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Trump clapping as Putin approached, with a grin on his face.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
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Palace are working on possible replacements for Eze, who played the full 90 minutes in last week’s Community Shield match against Liverpool, and have approached Leicester City to explore a potential move for Bilal El Khannouss.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Approximate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximate. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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