more or less

adverb

Definition of more or lessnext
1
as in almost
very close to but not completely the lot is 16 acres more or less

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pretty
to some degree or extent most couples in the survey said that they were more or less happy in their marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in approximately
close to but not exactly the box weighs 60 pounds more or less

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 more or less On paper, this prequel-y reboot seemed to rewind too far, starting in more or less contemporary times and thus removing the more fantastical elements (and replacing them, unpromisingly, with leading man James Franco). — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026 Trask’s release on Sunday was more or less written on the wall. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2026 If both top closers have to do more or less the same thing, namely, stay in contention, arguably what has to happen here for either to hit the wire first, then the next question is, who wins in a stretch duel. — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 That all happens within the first 15 seconds; the remainder of the ad is more or less incoherent. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for more or less
Recent Examples of Synonyms for more or less
  1. almost
  2. pretty
  3. approximately
  4. practically
  5. quite
  6. about
  7. nearly
  8. relatively
Adverb
  • That’s nearly a 50-point gap in batting average, almost a 100-point margin in on-base percentage and over 200 points of separation in slugging percentage.
    — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • That's enough to be a smooth operator with almost all your tasks, especially casual browser activity.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of almost
Adverb
  • If the premise is that for the Commanders to excel, Daniels needs to excel — and that’s a pretty foolproof premise — then Blough’s ability to keep his quarterback out of danger and maximize his extraordinary abilities is paramount.
    — Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Aside from both being models, the mother-daughter duo share some pretty significant style overlap.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of pretty
Adverb
  • Scaling remains the next test By the end of 2025, China had approximately 32,000 fuel-cell vehicles in operation.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The mausoleum, measuring 55 feet along each side and 16 feet high, is approximately 600 years old, dating to a period just before or possibly during the Inca conquest of the region in the mid-1400s.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of approximately
Adverb
  • It’s been more than a week since deadly flash floods killed hundreds and left thousands missing along the China-Nepal border — and practically nothing is known about the victims on the Chinese side.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Fshaoes Oversized Button-Down Shirt Another billowy option, this oversized button-down shirt is practically begging to be worn as a beach cover-up.
    — Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of practically
Adverb
  • But Argano, who drives Engine 10, isn't quite ready to pack it in.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The concept of growing sod on plastic is one the NFL has really relied on quite heavily to be able to have the level of quality and the ability to turn around and replace a field midseason.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of quite
Adverb
  • At about midnight, the mayflies stopped flying and the fish disappeared.
    — Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Karina, a former Category 4 hurricane spinning about 755 miles east-northeast of Hilo, Hawaii, and Tropical Storm Marie, churning about 705 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of about
Adverb
  • On Wednesday, Musubi's staff used its commercial kitchen in Wailua, on Kauai's east side, to serve nearly 600 free meals.
    — GENE JOHNSON, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
  • During President Joe Biden’s four years in office, employers added an average of nearly 329,000 jobs a month.
    — Melissa Goldin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of nearly
Adverb
  • On closer-range shots, Brughmans often adopts a wide base with his chest slightly forward and his arms relatively low.
    — Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Nuclear power, where viable, can offer another source of relatively stable generation costs.
    — Nana Menya Ayensu, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of relatively

Browse Nearby Words

more
more or less
moreover
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“More or less.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/more%20or%20less. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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