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
Victoria Le, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
With reports that Leonardo DiCaprio is distinctly interested in playing the role of Chris Shiherlis, the character played by the late great Val Kilmer in the original, Heat 2‘s approximate budget is $150 million.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
Michael Santoli, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
The catalogue of jaw-dropping moments between them is too vast to even approximate a list.
—Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Adjective
Of the approximate 50 residents in attendance at the Fountain Valley Recreation Center, the 18 who took to the podium were split on whether the city should have its own charter.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
With reports that Leonardo DiCaprio is distinctly interested in playing the role of Chris Shiherlis, the character played by the late great Val Kilmer in the original, Heat 2‘s approximate budget is $150 million.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
Nothing says the market is due for another such manic episode, which itself had only been closely approximated by the binge that culminated 70 years earlier.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
The catalogue of jaw-dropping moments between them is too vast to even approximate a list.
—Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximate
Adjective
-
In that sense, shortages on the Colorado River will have a small relative impact on Queen Creek — likely bringing about three years of higher water rates for residents — but the town is still far from a long-term renewable water supply that can meet its growth potential.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The incredible women in the comments reminded me [that] beauty is relative.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
With about 90% of ballots counted, California voters passed Proposition 50 by a wide margin, but results from the Sacramento region reflect a community split on the measure.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Tuesday's losses by the GOP could be viewed as a barometer for voter attitudes ahead of the 2026 midterms, reflecting broader dissatisfaction among core Republican constituencies and raising questions about the party's direction and messaging.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Joy Buolamwini, a computer scientist at MIT Media Lab, has written extensively on the dangers of inaccurate and racially biased facial recognition systems.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The Gemini integration naturally raises concerns about the chatbot hallucinating inaccurate information.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
One cheerfully holds a toothbrush, her hair wrapped in a matching second towel (for me, a universal symbol of maturity and womanhood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Made popular by Toteme, this two-in-one coat is recognizable by the boxy silhouette with an attached, matching scarf that offers a unique look and extra layer of warmth around the neck.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Using incorrect or false case references in legal documents has real implications for defendants, because judges rely on these references to help form their rulings, Kjoller’s lawyers wrote.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Appeals can be made based on factors including incorrect data, adverse testing conditions, and school or community emergencies, according to the State Board of Education.—
Erick Trevino,
AZCentral.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Still, the company reported a $110 million net loss for that same period, due in large part to spending of $90 million on research and development, approaching the $107 million spent on R&D for all of 2024.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Approximate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximate. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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