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

Apollo estimates its overall system could occupy about one-fortieth the space of a conventional design. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026 The graphic below shows each squad’s market value, as estimated by German website Transfermarkt, with Hull cast far adrift. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Noun

Experts have provided different estimates over the years on how many nuclear weapons North Korea has in its possession. — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 Those figures are Techouse’s estimates rather than results from the latest testing campaign. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for estimate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for estimate

Verb

She was rescued from the area by firefighters and assessed on their boat.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
In addition, there are the findings of the Police Reform Organizing Project’s (PROP) Court Monitoring Project, a kind of misnomer since its work actually involves assessing NYPD arrest practices.

— Robert Gangi, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of assess

Verb

The pay boost is one-time and not used to calculate pension benefits.

— Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
But Trump has been relentless in his quest to beautify the nation’s capital, an overall effort that early estimates have calculated will cost over $1 billion.

— News Desk, Artforum, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of calculate

Noun

And if bail is necessary to ensure a return to court, the amount must be attainable and based on an assessment of the defendant’s financial circumstances.

— Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Battles over aging parents and their fortunes are becoming increasingly common in wealthy families, with some requiring cognitive assessments for those leading family businesses.

— Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of assessment

Verb

Separately, PalmPay, the fintech company launched in Nigeria with backing from Transsion and China’s NetEase, is seeking about $200 million ahead of a potential Hong Kong IPO that could value it at more than $1 billion.

— Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Legend has it that Steinbrenner himself put up less than $200,000 of his own money — perhaps as little as $168,000 — to secure a roughly two percent initial ownership stake in a total purchase package initially valued at just over $10 million.

— Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of value

Noun

Progressive cognitive decline that interferes with everyday functioning warrants further evaluation.

— Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 19 Aug. 2026
The Southern Regional Education Board — a consortium of 16 Southern states that provides guidance on school issues — published an AI procurement and evaluation checklist last year for K-12 schools.

— Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 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 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of estimate

verb

noun

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