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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of approximating
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Enlarging the circle improves accuracy by better approximating a true circle.
—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
Verb
The National Football League, for all its flaws, understands the commercial necessity of approximating fairness.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Enlarging the circle improves accuracy by better approximating a true circle.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximating
Adjective
-
Beauty, then, arises from the pain and struggle of experiencing oneself as a site of divine truancy, and ugly is that which pretends to be directly equivalent to the soul, God, etc.—
Esther Yi,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
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Both sales and streams are included in the ranking's methodology, and according to Luminate, 35 Biggest Hits moved another 16,600 equivalent units in the tracking frame reflected on the current lists between those two consumption metrics.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
With the Fourth of July approaching, officials are urging pet owners to take extra precautions.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
In legal filings, Ohio Medicaid warned that recalculating the payments under the court's interpretation could cost about $285 million more per year than lawmakers originally intended, potentially approaching $1 billion over two budget cycles.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Alvarado, who has comparable stature to Brunson, was wrapped up by Wembanyama and thrown away from the play.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
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Winner may not substitute, assign or transfer Prize or redeem Prize for cash, but Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to substitute Prize (or portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value.—
AJC.com,
AJC.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Since launch, daily watch time per viewer on Tadka has grown fivefold, reflecting sustained engagement with the format.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
11 June 2026
-
Memorials, a museum and reflecting pools stand on the precise site where the twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
An InStyle writer discovered that Quince’s $140 Italian Leather Mini Bowler Crossbody Satchel is a near-identical lookalike to a popular $3,750 Miu Miu bag.—
Olivia Cigliano,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
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The braking setup is identical too, with a single dual-piston caliper and 290-mm disc up front, and a 220-mm disc with a two-piston caliper for the rear.—
Utkarsh Sood
June 13,
New Atlas,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Lead drama actor holds essentially steady at 78, nearly matching last year’s 77, when 134 names crowded the ballot.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
Vitinha — Portugal/PSG The passing hub of Europe’s best club side comes into this World Cup in fine form, fresh from matching the great Xavi by completing 141 passes in last month’s Champions League final.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Branding experts have lately been posing an analogous question to their clients about Generation Alpha, roughly defined as anyone under the age of 15.—
Greg Petro,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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He was asked why there hasn’t been analogous progress by the men’s national team.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
In 1986, eager to shift the burden away from taxpayers, Congress mandated that new presidential libraries raise an endowment equal to 20% of the cost, for future maintenance.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
-
Instead, fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and warm water and after blotting the stain dry, spray the solution onto the affected area.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Approximating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximating. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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