as in equivalent
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as in approaching
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of approximating
Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
But he is also credited with the invention of a screw water pump — still used in power plants today — and a means of approximating pi, among many other things.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026
In these walls of white noise, Martin channels Paysage d’Hiver, a Swiss black-metal artist who has made a whole career—and a lot of lore—out of approximating winter storms through blindingly white guitar fuzz and overwhelming dark-ambient atmospheres.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
In the others, researchers cranked up the heat in greenhouses, approximating the effects of global warming.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 12 Jan. 2026
The ideal scenario would see Wiggins approximating what Horton did this year, but that was a unique case of elite talent aligning with opportunity and player development.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Each module covered a 36° segment of the ring, approximating the continuous boundary predicted by theory.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Dec. 2025
Reminiscent of Polanski’s Repulsion in its nightmarish depiction of an unraveling mind, Vicious, which was initially slated for a theatrical release but is instead streaming on Paramount+, doesn’t come close to approximating its greatness.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025
For decades, physicists have attempted to do so by approximating the quantum field as a discrete lattice of points.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
The authors suggest that the Democratic preference, approximating a more native pronunciation, was motivated by greater multicultural sensitivity.
—Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
But he is also credited with the invention of a screw water pump — still used in power plants today — and a means of approximating pi, among many other things.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026
In these walls of white noise, Martin channels Paysage d’Hiver, a Swiss black-metal artist who has made a whole career—and a lot of lore—out of approximating winter storms through blindingly white guitar fuzz and overwhelming dark-ambient atmospheres.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
In the others, researchers cranked up the heat in greenhouses, approximating the effects of global warming.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 12 Jan. 2026
The ideal scenario would see Wiggins approximating what Horton did this year, but that was a unique case of elite talent aligning with opportunity and player development.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Each module covered a 36° segment of the ring, approximating the continuous boundary predicted by theory.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Dec. 2025
Reminiscent of Polanski’s Repulsion in its nightmarish depiction of an unraveling mind, Vicious, which was initially slated for a theatrical release but is instead streaming on Paramount+, doesn’t come close to approximating its greatness.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025
For decades, physicists have attempted to do so by approximating the quantum field as a discrete lattice of points.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximating
Adjective
-
Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).—
Keith Caulfield,
Billboard,
29 Mar. 2026
-
In New York, which has a far-better staffed law department and rarely uses private counsel, the equivalent figure was less than $400,000 per year of incarceration.—
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The approaching Easter holiday often means an increase in the purchase and gifting of live rabbits, and a resulting spike in abandonments.—
Sharon Chin,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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It is now believed that Comet MAPS has an orbital period approaching 2,000 years, and may be a fragment of a daylight comet seen in 363 AD.—
Tony Hoffman,
PC Magazine,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Many of Mecklenburg County’s top officials make similar or better money than those doing comparable jobs in other parts of the state and country.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
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Dell’s total headcount fell roughly 10%, or about 11,000 employees, in fiscal 2026, according to its 10-K filing, which is the third consecutive year of comparable declines.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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What To Know As the conflict enters its second month, several world leaders are speaking directly to their populations, reflecting how the war's impact has spread well beyond the battlefield.—
Sam Stevenson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
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The Comments Tell Their Own Story The video’s comment section has become a gathering place for users reflecting on YouTube’s evolution and their own relationship with the platform.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Each suite, which is nearly identical in size to those in the Stueckle Sky Center, has large sliding doors leading out to the field, as well as windows that look back into the lounge.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
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One resistance gene was 100% identical, suggesting a relatively recent swap.—
Jonathan Lambert,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Achiuwa had 18 points and 15 rebounds by halftime, matching his season high in the latter category.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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The cranberry-colored outfit includes dress shirt, matching dress shoes and socks, and accessories that reflect the actor’s red-carpet style, Tussauds officials say.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The public nuisance theory in the New Mexico case is designed to produce an analogous structural outcome for social media.—
Carolina Rossini,
The Conversation,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Beitler sees scrolling on TikTok as analogous to surfing TV channels.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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That’s nearly equal to the average Wall Street bonus for 2025.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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Dating back to the Great Recession and the Covid pandemic, when private investment firms began pouring billions into purchasing single-family homes, the issue has become an equal-opportunity boogeyman.—
Bob Woods,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Approximating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximating. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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