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

Legal costs are still to be decided in the case, and they have been estimated in as high as $67 million. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 23 July 2026 The researchers began with the start of the Holocene, 12,000 years ago, when, experts estimate, the global population was between about four million and seven million. — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 23 July 2026

Noun

Be sure to give the full picture of everything on your plate, along with realistic estimates of how long projects will take. — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Authorities have not said how many remain missing, though estimates put the figure in the tens of thousands. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for estimate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for estimate

Verb

City documents say the department is assessing tripled fees for both structural and grading work done without authorization.

— Zuri Primos July 27, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
This has significance for assessing LLMs and determining their impacts.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of assess

Verb

Instead, meteorologists divide the atmosphere into big boxes — a 3D grid — and calculate how each box changes on average over time.

— Matt von Hippel, Quanta Magazine, 29 July 2026
Child Care Aware of America calculated the national average annual child care price of $13,128 in 2024, or 35% of the median income of a single-parent household.

— Kristin Vance Richards, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of calculate

Noun

In Kirke’s estimation, apparel shouldn’t be caught up in the maelstrom brewing between Washington and Ottowa over exports like steel, automotives, dairy or alcohol.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 21 July 2026
No commissioner is ever all that popular, but Manfred has enjoyed a bit of a glow-up in fan estimation recently.

— Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 17 July 2026

Definition of estimation

Noun

However, the assessment of assets has come into question since then.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
The county tax program referenced in the settlement is also expected to lead to inroads in the county’s ongoing legal battle with the Missouri State Tax Commission, which previously directed the county to roll back its 2023 assessments.

— Ilana Arougheti July 23, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

Definition of assessment

Verb

This is pro sports, and valuing past performance against current or predicted production is a terrible data point.

— Mac Engel July 26, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 July 2026
Anthropic, which is valued at close to $1 trillion and has aspirations of going public in the near future, said stopping illicit distillation was a matter of national security.

— Kif Leswing,Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 25 July 2026

Definition of value

Verb

No torque figure was released, but that number also figures to be higher (the off-road Raging Bull makes 413 ft lbs of twist).

— Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 July 2026
Backup catcher Drew Millas was the first Nationals catcher in the majors to look to the dugout for suggestions, as the team figured its outspoken backstop would communicate what was (or wasn’t) working and have more time to focus on his offense.

— Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of figure

Noun

Some information can be gleaned from such appraisals, like what shape the recovered debris is in, what degree of temperatures they were exposed to.

— Leonard David, Space.com, 22 July 2026
Many measures, such as those in Louisiana, have yet to receive cost appraisals but are still projected to curb local government revenue streams.

— Paxton Honerkamp, CNBC, 21 July 2026

Definition of appraisal

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 31 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of estimate

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noun

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