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
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2025
To Sturzenegger, that was in the approximate vicinity where Warren said the initial searches for Brick took place.
—David Chiu, People.com, 14 May 2025
Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025
Instead, the vodka is artificially flavored to approximate it.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Adjective
Jeanty’s approximate 5-minute segment followed him from a signing ceremony with his agency, Disruptive Sports, to predraft workouts.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2025
To Sturzenegger, that was in the approximate vicinity where Warren said the initial searches for Brick took place.
—David Chiu, People.com, 14 May 2025
Verb
Even if such a war ends with something approximating a victory, the population would likely be shattered and the state drained of all spare capacity.
—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025
Instead, the vodka is artificially flavored to approximate it.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximate
Adjective
-
The idea behind these planter/benches is easy enough to understand: create some opportunities for residents to find shade on hot days in a neighborhood considered to be a classic urban heat island due to its relative dearth of trees.—
Thomas E. Weber,
Time,
6 June 2025
-
However, strong competition from Japan’s Fujifilm, a relative upstart founded in 1934, put pressure on Kodak in the late 1990s pushing it to the brink of bankruptcy in 2011.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
American flags will be lowered across the country to fly at half-staff to reflect the solemnity of Memorial Day on Monday morning.—
Chloe Mayer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 May 2025
-
Abercrombie recorded a remarkable full-year 2024 net sales of $4.95 billion, reflecting a 16% year-over-year increase, and its highest operating margin in over a decade at 15%.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Adjective
-
Ortega also explained that her age makes people assume an inaccurate sense of naiveté.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
-
But this is inaccurate as grid-scale storage batteries (BESS) can resolve this problem.—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Verb
-
Unlike last season, when the top-four seeds and first-round byes were reserved for conference champions, the top seeds will match the selection committee’s final rankings, with no regard to league affiliation.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
27 May 2025
-
One set of trousers and underwear matched Mulcahy’s DNA, and the other matched Duffy’s, corroborating his confession.—
Sarah Beckwith,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
Adjective
-
The senators are incorrect three times, and surely more.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
-
But here’s the twist: both might technically be incorrect.—
Simon Perry,
People.com,
27 May 2025
Verb
-
With cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency approaching 300,000, per Challenger, Gray & Christmas, this will be a space to watch closely as unemployment benefits and severance pay run out.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
-
The risk of strong to severe thunderstorms returns Sunday afternoon ahead of an approaching cold front, the weather service said.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Approximate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximate. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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