1
as in relative
being such only when compared to something else
the movie's an approximate success, if you can overlook the overblown publicity that preceded it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in approximative
not precisely correct
police could only give us an approximate count of the number of people who attended the air show
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to reflect
to come near or nearer to in character or quality
Rob's violin performance last night didn't even approximate what he's really capable of when he's not feeling sick
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of approximate
Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Add 2-4 inches to these measurements, and these are the approximate dimensions on the proper kennel size for your dog.
—Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025
Mike Monroe, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
There is no approximating the time since Charles Omenihu suffered a torn ACL — an injury that prevented him from playing in last season’s Super Bowl.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Adjective
The string was exactly ninety-five metres long, each millimetre representing one of Sweden’s approximate ninety-five thousand annual deaths.
—Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Add 2-4 inches to these measurements, and these are the approximate dimensions on the proper kennel size for your dog.
—Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
His game approximates that of Parker’s more than any other Spur since the French Hall of Famer left the team in 2019.
—Mike Monroe, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
There is no approximating the time since Charles Omenihu suffered a torn ACL — an injury that prevented him from playing in last season’s Super Bowl.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximate
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Investopedia gave the town nods for for its relative proximity to hospitals and the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.—
Simone Jasper,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2025
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The 10 individuals initially arrested in September 2017, which included four college assistant coaches, were all relative bit players in the ecosystem.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Each trophy reflects Jame Eagan’s age at the time that it’s awarded.—
Abigail Lee,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2025
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The move comes as Raymond James increased its target price for Allegiant stock from $110 per share to $125, reflecting the airline’s potential for improved margins once freed from the Sunseeker burden.—
Jackie Snow,
Quartz,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Implementing controls to reign in its AI agents’ behavior that can initiate incorrect orders, offer bad advice or generate inaccurate research.—
Gene Marks,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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But to say that each team’s problems are entirely talent-and-bad-luck issues would be inaccurate in our view.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In the darker versions, the mid-point between soft blue and pastel purple is explored—the results of which match a shade that Pantone has named Deep Periwinkle.—
Alice Nardiotti,
Vogue,
15 Mar. 2025
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Investigators later matched it to a shell casing from the shooting scene, police said.—
Michael Moore Jr.,
Miami Herald,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In housing, there are numerous examples of how incorrect data has led to adverse decisions affecting people’s lives.—
State Sen. James Maroney,
Hartford Courant,
9 Mar. 2025
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But parents and activists say the numbers are incorrect since the campus consists of newer buildings, constructed decades after the school opened, and older buildings from 1957 that are used for storage, not instruction.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Manager David Moyes is approaching two months in post, and supporters are still waiting for clues as to what will follow once Premier League survival is secured.—
Patrick Boyland,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
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In practice, Ryan says, parents can implement it by simply approaching the challenging moments with their kid from a place of curiosity rather than anger, rigidity or frustration.—
Miranda Rake,
Parents,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Approximate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximate. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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