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

City staff said the repayment would be based on the property’s current fair market value, with the federal program’s share estimated at about 75%. — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026 That’s 30,000 more than estimated before the action started in June and ran through mid-July. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026

Noun

Many of the same researchers worked on both studies, but the new research attempts to narrow a broad range of possible CTE rates to a more precise estimate. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 Given that, the researchers recalculated their incidence estimate to find that some three in four football players in the study likely had CTE. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for estimate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for estimate

Verb

Analysts assessing China’s September 2025 weapons display cautioned that questions about operational capabilities remained.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
On top of that, BYU defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that gave the Knights a fresh set of downs and moved them up to the BYU 28-yard line.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of assess

Verb

The system tracks these changes to calculate muscle length and velocity, enabling the prosthetic controller to direct limb movement.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
The analysis did not separately calculate the administrator’s share of those expenses.

— Natalie Jones, Baltimore Sun, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of calculate

Noun

In Bellés’s estimation, everyone involved with the film immersed themselves in the details, committing to whatever their role was with something like abandon.

— Elaina Patton, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
In Crowell’s estimation, the album was 70 percent finished at the time of Snider’s died.

— Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of estimation

Noun

ANYbotics performed a comprehensive ignition-risk assessment for ANYmal X’s service life and implemented safeguards for each potential ignition source.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
Their assessments point to a tighter race than many initially expected, including perhaps Matsui who has spent millions of her personal wealth on the campaign in recent months.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of assessment

Verb

Branca quickly stepped in to manage his affairs, and his lawyers have long credited him with transforming Jackson’s estate from one saddled with more than $500 million in debt into an enterprise valued at roughly $2 billion.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2026
The complimentary seats reportedly included premium tickets to the BAFTA Film Awards valued at up to £2,000 ($2,660).

— Anna Tingley, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of value

Verb

But El-Sayed’s medical and public health background is likely to figure prominently if he is elected as a senator from Michigan.

— Anil Oza, STAT, 28 Oct. 2026
There’s a lot left to get back on the right track — especially with the New York Giants figuring things out at the top of the division — but Monday’s result could serve as the launching pad for a run in the next few weeks.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of figure

Noun

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
What unravels is a long overdue appraisal of one of this century’s greatest pop-rock bands.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of appraisal

Noun

After 90 days and weekly supervisor evaluations, the PIP officially ended in July 2025.

— Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
The initial demonstration establishes a technical milestone, but further testing and evaluation will determine its broader utility.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 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 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of estimate

verb

noun

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