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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
-
The logic here is highly questionable — dying for your queen and dying by her hand are not equivalent sacrifices — but let’s blame Lorent’s lapse in judgment on the chaos of the moment.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
-
The album, which was released on June 12, enters at the chart summit with 485,000 equivalent album units, marking her largest week ever and the biggest for any album by a soloist this year.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
Until the oil market truly returns back to something approaching normal, the system will continue to rely on those stockpiles.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
-
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said air defenses shot down more than 130 drones approaching the city.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
McGeady’s career was not, in the nicest possible way, comparable to Ronaldinho, but the two-touch spin became his trademark and will be familiar to gamers, as well as to Celtic, Spartak Moscow, Everton and Sunderland fans.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Sources interviewed for this story said that broadly speaking, prices remain high for contemporary works, despite the fact that comparable works can often be found for considerably less at auction.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Pricing sits at the upper end of the Turkish market, reflecting the case complexity ASMED tends to accept.—
Ascend Agency,
Daily News,
17 June 2026
-
Now retired, Engoron sat down with CBS News for his first on-camera interview since the 2023 trial, reflecting on his career and the highs and lows of his moment in the spotlight.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
The decision comes as a blow to NetChoice, which has won court victories against identical digital identification laws in other states, including Arkansas, Louisiana and Georgia.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
-
That’s identical to the notes for the 11 updates that preceded it, by the way.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
California Highway Patrol officers began pursuing a vehicle matching the suspect's description near Castaic Lake.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
Sasha opted for a white off-shoulder top with a matching skirt, paired with a thick brown belt featuring a large circular buckle.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Ali, who has been the series’ resident mentor, father figure, listening ear, voice of reason and confidant, transforms into what is most analogous to an action hero in a revenge plot.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2026
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The force-carrying particles have an analogous distinction, known as a polarization state.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
But the Three Lions are only equal atop the table with Ghana, which got a goal deep in stoppage time from Caleb Yirenkyi to beat Panama.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
-
More impressively, summer ticket sales are nearly equal to the 2019 summer at the same point, not accounting for inflation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Approximating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximating. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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