as in equivalent
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as in approaching
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
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Recent Examples of approximating
Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 25 May 2026
The band sounds a little like the Police approximating Weather Report, but Parker sounds much like the very guitarist who would join Tortoise and build the ETA IVTet—his tone incisive and notes restrained, his choices forever relating to the rhythm.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 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
During these tests, the platform demonstrated its ability to perform tasks in conditions approximating real combat scenarios.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
Only the handful of relegation-proof Premier League clubs have anything approximating US sport franchise valuations, because everyone else’s value could evaporate as a result of a bad season or two.
—Andrés Martinez, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
In the field of cosmology, approximating dark energy with a cosmological constant has been remarkably successful since its presence was first revealed in the late 1990s.
—Big Think, 1 Apr. 2026
The authors suggest that the Democratic preference, approximating a more native pronunciation, was motivated by greater multicultural sensitivity.
—Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
But he is also credited with the invention of a screw water pump — still used in power plants today — and a means of approximating pi, among many other things.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
Lynch and Weselcouch implemented precisely this clever technique for approximating pi in Minecraft in 2024.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 25 May 2026
The band sounds a little like the Police approximating Weather Report, but Parker sounds much like the very guitarist who would join Tortoise and build the ETA IVTet—his tone incisive and notes restrained, his choices forever relating to the rhythm.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 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
During these tests, the platform demonstrated its ability to perform tasks in conditions approximating real combat scenarios.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
Only the handful of relegation-proof Premier League clubs have anything approximating US sport franchise valuations, because everyone else’s value could evaporate as a result of a bad season or two.
—Andrés Martinez, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
In the field of cosmology, approximating dark energy with a cosmological constant has been remarkably successful since its presence was first revealed in the late 1990s.
—Big Think, 1 Apr. 2026
The authors suggest that the Democratic preference, approximating a more native pronunciation, was motivated by greater multicultural sensitivity.
—Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
But he is also credited with the invention of a screw water pump — still used in power plants today — and a means of approximating pi, among many other things.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximating
Adjective
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Through narrow, treacherous tunnels, some waterlogged and cold enough for wetsuits, others so tight oxygen was scarce, the men navigated 260 meters (approximately 850 feet), from the chamber they’d been trapped in to the cave’s mouth, a distance equivalent to the height of a 78-story building.—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
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By then, analysts outlined how the NDAA’s provision to arm Iraq with equivalent systems could ultimately scupper any Kurdish acquisition, or at least delay it indefinitely.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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This may be attributed to school districts approaching reading education in a different way.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
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If a bear appears intent on approaching you, your group, or your campsite in a non-defensive manner (not showing signs of agitation), gather your group together, make noise, and try to discourage the bear from further approaching.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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Thorstad believes the present reality of people in Iran is comparable to the situation with Cuba under Fidel Castro’s rule.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2026
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Researchers say this appears to be the slowest theropod trackway speed identified from comparable strata and represents a very rare example of slow dinosaur movement.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
25 May 2026
Verb
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In the film, Ventura interviews the band members separately, with each person candidly reflecting on the group’s success and their downfall.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
27 May 2026
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The pair have remained close since their initial meeting, and Kimmel got emotional while reflecting on Carolla’s career.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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According to the trial findings, outcomes among lower-risk patients were nearly identical regardless of whether chemotherapy was used.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
30 May 2026
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With 25 points for a win, that means Russell could soon be two whole race wins behind his young in-house rival; never a comfortable spot when competing against someone with identical equipment.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
Verb
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At the French Open Tuesday, the four-time Grand Slam champion staged an outfit reveal once again, striding out for her first-round match against Germany’s Laura Siegemund wearing a black corset and matching pleated, cascading skirt that skimmed over the clay.—
Ava Wallace,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
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The study also compared garments from Kantamanto Market with textile waste from the lagoon and Jamestown beaches, matching brand tags from 172 market garments with those from 128 beach garments to see whether the same brands appeared in both.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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There’s another example of this process that might be more analogous to the age of AI, put forward in a research brief published Tuesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
27 May 2026
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Finding a single system that simultaneously satisfies all the requirements is analogous to shopping for a car online.—
Kai James,
The Conversation,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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Starting a tad later in 2008, SpaceX has managed to shoot 14,844 payloads into space – almost equal to the total of the rest of the world combined.—
David Szondy
May 31,
New Atlas,
31 May 2026
-
The dust cleared as both Grandes Americanos were on equal footing.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Approximating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximating. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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