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
Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
Plus, Procter recommends adding $6,000 to $19,000 to that figure—the approximate cost for employers to find your replacement, depending on your level of experience.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 10 June 2026
Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 25 May 2026
This framework uses household spending to approximate the size of an adequate nest egg, by multiplying its annual spending by 25.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Adjective
One option is the Endless Endless Shrimp package, which includes the specialty card, biometric safe and year of jiu-jitsu classes and carries an approximate retail value of $9,400, according to their website.
—Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
Plus, Procter recommends adding $6,000 to $19,000 to that figure—the approximate cost for employers to find your replacement, depending on your level of experience.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 10 June 2026
Verb
Enlarging the circle improves accuracy by better approximating a true circle.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 25 May 2026
This framework uses household spending to approximate the size of an adequate nest egg, by multiplying its annual spending by 25.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximate
Adjective
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That relative affordability is prompting some would-be buyers to sign leases instead, a more attainable but often deeply frustrating solution, and one that leaves them unable to accumulate wealth at the pace their parents’ and grandparents’ generations did.—
Jackie Cooperman,
Architectural Digest,
16 June 2026
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With gold continuing to surge in value, many watchmakers turned to platinum, a distinguished precious metal that suddenly looks like a relative value proposition.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Poets, baseball players and musicians aside, Edwards said much of what has been presented about Rector — especially online — is inaccurate.—
Dan Kelly
June 16,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
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JeffCo says that assertion is completely inaccurate, and the males listed on those rosters were coaches, trainers, and mascots, not athletes.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Trump blames vandalism for the troubles with the reflecting pool renovation, announces people are being arrested.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
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The first-of-its-kind event reflected a party eager to experiment and broaden its appeal beyond the traditional political crowd.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
22 June 2026
Adjective
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The researchers calculated welfare losses from incorrect beliefs could potentially reach up to 43% of the initial loan balance in the most extreme cases, translating to roughly $21,500 on the median borrower’s $50,000 in debt.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
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For example, many borrowers are getting incorrect estimates of what their bill would be on IBR, Rodriguez said.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Verb
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In the British social calendar, no event quite matches the prestige, pageantry and formal dress protocols of Royal Ascot.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
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Investigators also matched Mangione’s fingerprints to those found on a water bottle and a protein bar wrapper near the scene of the killing, officials said.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Studios, production companies and distributors regularly approach Promise, a generative AI company, to bring AI into their productions, and each arrives with its own usage guidelines, said the company’s president, Jamie Byrne.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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Authorities said Reyes repeatedly approached the girl and asked for her phone number.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Approximate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximate. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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