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
David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 27 Apr. 2026
Include the make, model, serial number, and approximate age of each item.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
So, which games are best for approximating the challenges Artemis will face in settling the moon's surface?
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Adjective
Anthropic overtook its competitor this week, surging to an approximate $1 trillion valuation.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 27 Apr. 2026
Include the make, model, serial number, and approximate age of each item.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
These are digital environments populated by AI agents with goals, memories, and incentives—each one designed to approximate a real-world behavioral profile.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
So, which games are best for approximating the challenges Artemis will face in settling the moon's surface?
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximate
Adjective
-
Zachary Schermele On the heels of a frightening shooting over the weekend, the royal address seemed to bring Washington together in a moment of relative unity at a time when it was needed.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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New Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has endorsed the talks but his relative silence and non-visibility have created space for Iran’s various internal factions to disagree over the way forward.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Yet its release may reflect a bid by European officials to seize upon a hope that critics have argued has long been their sole strategy to defeat Russia in Ukraine – to wait for its internal collapse.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
-
While the underlying value is tied to the global spot price of gold, coins are sold at a premium that reflects minting costs, distribution, and dealer margins.—
Ascend Agency,
New York Daily News,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Ernie Dosio’s Family Breaks Their Silence According to Dosio’s ex-wife, Rinda Butler Dosio, the family initially received inconsistent and sometimes inaccurate information.—
Ryan Brennan
April 28,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Retailers are charging people based on guesses, and those guesses are frequently inaccurate.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Leaders broadly agreed that the shale revolution has buffered American consumers from the worst of the current energy shock in ways Europe, Asia, and Africa cannot match.—
Rachel Keidan,
semafor.com,
7 May 2026
-
And some of the state’s congressional Democrats are worried the impulse to match Republican partisan efforts would be bad for the American electorate.—
Ana Ceballos
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
The part where there's a problem is the FIFA president spreading incorrect information about ticket prices while standing to benefit a great deal from higher costs.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
-
Low-quality over-the-counter (OTC) products, incorrect dose, or decreased absorption can be a few reasons.—
Ayesha Gulzar,
Verywell Health,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Instead, approach him with curiosity.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
One way of approaching this is to go back to our earlier discussion about attitudes.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Approximate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximate. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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