ESTIMATE Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'estimate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of estimate are appraise , assess , evaluate , rate , and value . While all these words mean "to judge something with respect to its worth or significance," estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out. // estimated the crowd at two hundred

Q: Where would 'appraise' be a reasonable alternative to 'estimate'?

The words appraise and estimate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment. // having their house appraised

Q: When can 'assess' be used instead of 'estimate'?

While the synonyms assess and estimate are close in meaning, assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action. // officials are trying to assess the damage

Q: When might 'evaluate' be a better fit than 'estimate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to estimate , evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary. // evaluate a student's work

Q: How are the words 'rate' and 'estimate' related?

Rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values. // a highly rated restaurant

Q: How do 'value' and 'appraise' relate to one another, in the sense of 'estimate'?

Value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment. // a watercolor valued by the donor at $500

estimate 1 of 2

verb

ˈe-stə-ˌmāt

Definition of estimate

as in to assess

to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding experts estimated the value of the painting at a million dollars

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to calculate

to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement we estimated the snowfall to be about a foot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

estimate

2 of 2

noun

ˈe-stə-mət

as in estimation

the act of placing a value on the nature, character, or quality of something what we owe our war veterans is beyond estimate

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in assessment

an opinion on the nature, character, or quality of something the estimate of many art specialists that the painting is a fake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb estimate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of estimate are appraise, assess, evaluate, rate, and value. While all these words mean "to judge something with respect to its worth or significance," estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out.

estimated the crowd at two hundred

Where would appraise be a reasonable alternative to estimate?

The words appraise and estimate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment.

having their house appraised

When can assess be used instead of estimate?

While the synonyms assess and estimate are close in meaning, assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action.

officials are trying to assess the damage

When might evaluate be a better fit than estimate?

While in some cases nearly identical to estimate, evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary.

evaluate a student's work

How are the words rate and estimate related?

Rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values.

a highly rated restaurant

How do value and appraise relate to one another, in the sense of estimate?

Value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment.

a watercolor valued by the donor at $500

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 estimate

Verb

Scientists have estimated up to around 13 million metric tons of plastics enter the ocean each year, but only a fraction of has been found floating at the surface — around 250,000 tons. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026 Italian energy company Eni last month signed development contracts with eight main contractors to develop Cronos, estimated to contain around 3 trillion cubic feet (85 billion cubic meters) of the hydrocarbon. — ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026

Noun

Cheng Chia Huang | Getty Images Qualcomm reported quarterly results on Wednesday that topped Wall Street estimates, but the chipmaker's earnings forecast came in lighter than expected. — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026 In 2021, Bonhams sold Birkin’s Black Togo Birkin 35, which was from 1999, for 119,000 pounds, five times its pre-sale estimate of 15,000 pounds to 20,000 pounds. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for estimate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for estimate

Verb

Daimler Trucks North America The system is designed to recognize fast-moving vehicles (including motorcycles) crossing the truck's path, expanding the truck's ability to respond to traffic situations that can be difficult to assess from the cab.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2026
Rather, a lot of factors and interpretations go into assessing said risk.

— Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of assess

Verb

For example, a homeowner with a house assessed at $500,000 could eventually have taxes calculated as if the home were worth $250,000 for those local taxes.

— Sergio Candido, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Douglas McCauley, professor of ocean science at UC Santa Barbara and director of the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, said the new report doesn’t provide much information about how the new number was calculated.

— Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of calculate

Noun

Tests included object recognition, distance estimation, and motion tracking across environments ranging from nighttime urban streets to crowded indoor spaces.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
In the face of rising consolidation and monopolization in tech, David just couldn’t keep up with Goliath in Thomas’ estimation.

— Ruben Circelli, PC Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of estimation

Noun

Model improves testing boundaries Beyond exploit development, OpenAI has focused on ensuring GPT-6 Cyber respects the limits of authorized security assessments.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
Factories that regularly completed Cascale’s Higg environmental assessment recorded a 22 percent drop in emissions from their operations and purchased energy over four years, the industry group reported on Thursday.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of assessment

Verb

Its most critical budget item is a donation in the form of space and services from Orange County government valued at about $11,000.

— Beth Kassab, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
Some deals made this year include K9 orders to Spain from Hanwha Aerospace, valued at about 546 million euros, as well as a $922 million order for K239 rocket systems from Norway.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of value

Verb

How to Quit Smoking finds Fike at 30, now a dad and still figuring a lot of things out.

— Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2026
So, sure, the Chiefs might figure to be revived soon with their next three games against the New York Jets (2-6), Atlanta Falcons (3-5) and Arizona Cardinals (3-5).

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of figure

Noun

The first step is to ask the lender to reconsider the value if the appraisal overlooked a recent sale or got the details wrong.

— Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
The property in the ad receives both the general homestead exemption and the exemption for veterans who are 100% disabled, according to the appraisal district website.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of appraisal

Noun

Anthropic believes cryptographic inference proofs could help detect tampering with model responses, support independent evaluations and give regulators a way to verify which models providers are serving.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
The other, comprising of Aetna, Caremark and two companies that CVS acquired that provide primary care and in-home health evaluations to senior citizens, will be called CVS Health in the interim.

— Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of evaluation

Browse Nearby Words

estimable

estimate

estimated

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Style

“Estimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/estimate. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of estimate

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noun

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