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
Robert A. Cronkleton
march 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026
Historically, Democrats enjoyed an approximate 65% to 35% advantage over Republicans.
—Gary M. Segura, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
Isaac Quaye, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Some bakers find that adding lemon juice or vinegar to milk approximates buttermilk’s acidity adequately for their uses.
—Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Adjective
An airport police officer will meet with victims who come forward to ask them their experience, as well as a date and approximate time, Zahnd said.
—Robert A. Cronkleton
march 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026
Historically, Democrats enjoyed an approximate 65% to 35% advantage over Republicans.
—Gary M. Segura, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
The model learned to approximate how residents distinguish gentrified scenes from unchanged ones.
—Isaac Quaye, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Some bakers find that adding lemon juice or vinegar to milk approximates buttermilk’s acidity adequately for their uses.
—Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximate
Adjective
-
The relative success of the war elevated the Revolutionary Guard from a small, street-level militia, initially created to protect Khomeini and the other clerics at the forefront of the Islamic Revolution, into the symbolic defenders of the theocracy.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Since the war began, Western headlines have largely focused on Europe’s coming inflation shock, the relative invulnerability of the US economy, and the long-term consequences to the Gulf’s diversification drive.—
Clay Chandler,
semafor.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That is also reflected in the latest analysis of the bill by senate staff, which includes possible new wording focusing only on the assessment and not on establishing a new policy to bring back grizzlies.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The broader Baha Mar resort carries more of that focus, particularly through the wildlife sanctuary and marine programming, which reflect the property's emphasis on conservation and environmental education.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
However, the truth is in the blue links somewhere, and AI Overviews encourages people to accept its sometimes inaccurate summaries instead of checking those sources manually.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 Apr. 2026
-
When a consumer requests the removal of inaccurate information, credit agencies typically have 30 days to respond.—
Dan Avery,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Your optimistic spirit stays strong when habits match your values, so pick savings goals that fit your real life.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The teeth matched those of a fossil nautiloid called Paleocadmus pohli that had been found in the same area.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Google disputes the results and notes that Oumi used the SimpleQA benchmark, an AI test developed by OpenAI that contains incorrect information in its own right.—
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Google spokesperson Ned Adriance tells the Times that Google believes SimpleQA contains incorrect information.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Do not approach water, wet objects, or metal items.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Citing these extenuating circumstances, Ford approached the administration late last year to request temporary tariff relief.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Approximate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximate. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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