APPROXIMATING Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

approximating 1 of 2

adjective

as in equivalent

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Dissimilar Words

approximating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of approximate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of approximating

Verb

Execution reflects strategy consistently, rather than approximating it. — Don Dodds, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 Scaloni has set up Argentina in something approximating a 4-4-2 at this World Cup. — Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 15 July 2026 Uncanny too were the dusty pinks, approximating Penn’s beloved, nearly transparent poppies. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 June 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximating

Adjective

State energy officials say modestly higher upfront tire costs — about $26 more per set — will be outweighed by fuel savings, cutting drivers’ expenses and emissions equivalent to 400,000 cars annually.

— Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Accepted sources include government or corporate pension plans, or Social Security payments of at least 1,000 Panamanian balboa (directly equivalent to $1,000, according to Panama’s public security ministry).

— Brittany Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of equivalent

Verb

Compared to Bromley, Fleetwood are approaching elder-statesmen status as members of the EFL.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
The speed limit in the work zone is 55 mph, and drivers are required to move over when possible or slow down when approaching workers or construction activity along the shoulder.

— Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of approaching

Adjective

Target is emerging from more than a year of weak or declining comparable sales.

— CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Putting all those aspects together, the country most comparable to Russia, both historically and in the contemporary moment, is not Turkey or Iran but the United States.

— Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of comparable

Verb

Coverage of the Arday story was out of proportion to his position in society, reflecting the higher standard to which people of color are held when compared with their white peers, Vernon said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
During Anahulu Ho Emi, the third and final phase, the focus is diminishing, surrendering and reflecting.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of reflecting

Adjective

These examples do not mean every hospital can achieve identical results or that America never needs additional healthcare investment.

— Eugene Litvak, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
An all-time great joystick controller, resurrected with supposedly identical features and attention to detail, plus a little extra resilience.

— David Pierce, The Verge, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of identical

Adjective

For Russia and Ukraine, the analogous deadlock concerns control over the Donbas.

— Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026
Notably, an analogous gene swap had previously been shown to be nonviable when introduced into ΦX174 through conventional genetic engineering.

— Elie Dolgin, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of analogous

Adjective

Across the past two seasons, Coventry netted 27 times from back-post crosses, putting up almost equal chance numbers with crosses from either side.

— Liam Tharme, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Inspired in equal parts by Italian giallo horror flicks and American slasher flicks, the behind-the-scenes psychodrama stars Cotillard as a deathly ill scream queen shooting a sci-fi art film in Rome in 1982 who starts to go out of her mind.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of equal

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“Approximating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximating. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of approximating

adjective

verb

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