approximating 1 of 2

adjective

as in equivalent

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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
Whether any variant of such consciousness, approximating that of humans, can be achieved with a nonbiological foundation is assumed but remains to be seen. — Keith Tidman, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026 At this point in the news cycle, unity, or at least something approximating it, needs to be the chief league objective. — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The show imagines communities centered on the Mississippi River, which flows through Minneapolis, and the installation echoes a riverbed, with platforms approximating islands. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Execution reflects strategy consistently, rather than approximating it. — Don Dodds, Forbes.com, 27 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximating
  1. equivalent
  2. approaching
  3. comparable
  4. reflecting
  5. identical
  6. matching
  7. analogous
  8. equal
Adjective
  • During the first week of this month, the spread between 10 year Italian government bonds and equivalent German Bunds approached 130 basis points, marking its largest weekly expansion since the pandemic.
    — , CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Detroit legend’s last album came out in July 2024 with The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), which topped the Billboard 200, earning 281,000 total album-equivalent units, according to Luminate.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of equivalent
Verb
  • In his incident report, Garner said another officer activated a Taser's electrical arc to try to scare HeeHaw away, but the donkey continued approaching.
    — CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Surveillance footage showed Alfozan approaching the conference room on several occasions despite lacking authorization to enter or participate in meetings there.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of approaching
Adjective
  • The man at the centre of the story eventually represents a level of power comparable to that of the state.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Except for the shift in timing and this year’s sale lasting one day longer, the sale itself was comparable year-over-year.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of comparable
Verb
  • On the north side, a new seating amphitheater would border the reflecting pool, while glass walls would be installed between the museum’s neoclassical columns.
    — Neil Nakahodo, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The company also raised its full-year earnings outlook, reflecting continued progress on its turnaround plan.
    — TipRanks.com staff, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of reflecting
Adjective
  • Last year, an investigation by Consumer Reports, Groundwork Collaborative and More Perfect Union found that shoppers on Instacart were shown different prices for identical products at the same stores.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • To test their hypothesis, the team set up their system in one of three identical chicken houses at the same commercial chicken farm in Sakarya.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of identical
Verb
  • The long-sleeve Henley top feels like a fall staple, while the wide-leg pants keep the matching set comfortable without adding a ton of bulk to your travel-day look.
    — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2026
  • If the Giants are moving the line of scrimmage on offense and the home crowd is behind them after their 3-0 home start, that could be the recipe for John Harbaugh matching the Giants’ entire win total of 2025 by Week 6 of this season.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of matching
Adjective
  • Canada retaliated with its own set of near-analogous duties on more than $20 billion in American goods in early September.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Bayzo's pub is analogous to an English tavern, with creamy cups of clam chowder and a piano likely to launch you into Elton John renditions.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of analogous
Adjective
  • Expect Bass at tonight’s debate to try and assert her dominance early with equal part offense against Raman and defense of her record.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Under the ban, each homogeneous material that makes up a garment should not have a PFHxA concentration equal to or greater than 25 parts per billion (ppb) for the sum of PFHxA and its salts, while 1,000 ppb for the sum of its related substances.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of equal

Browse Nearby Words

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approximating
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Cite this Entry

“Approximating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximating. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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