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
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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
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
This is the approximate price of a mission on Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket, the cheapest US launcher with the muscle to lift the PUNCH satellites into orbit.
—Ars Technica, 13 Mar. 2025
Beth Ann Malow, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2025
Consider nighttime satellite images of lights in the country—arguably the best approach for approximating Chinese GDP.
—Stephen G. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Adjective
Based on Hackman's pacemaker data, his approximate date of death is February 18.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
This is the approximate price of a mission on Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket, the cheapest US launcher with the muscle to lift the PUNCH satellites into orbit.
—Ars Technica, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
Standard time most closely approximates natural light, with the sun directly overhead at or near noon.
—Beth Ann Malow, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2025
Consider nighttime satellite images of lights in the country—arguably the best approach for approximating Chinese GDP.
—Stephen G. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximate
Adjective
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The narrow five-game spread between the top and bottom performers illustrates the relative consistency in baseline predictive ability.—
Giovanni Malloy,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Yet despite its relative isolation, tourism to the Pacific Island country is only growing increasingly popular.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Creator Darren Star reflected on the wig reveal seen around the world — when Kimberly reappears after the accident and de-wigs to display a giant brain surgery scar — to Entertainment Weekly in 2019.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Her pivot to modeling reflects the growing trend of NIL-era athletes like LSU’s Angel Reese and Livvy Dunne leveraging their platforms beyond sports.—
WWD Staff,
Footwear News,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Companies with low-quality data could end up with AI outputs that are inaccurate and biased, which could send the company's strategy in the wrong direction, frustrate customers or worse.—
Rob Sanchez,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Companies with low-quality data could end up with AI outputs that are inaccurate and biased, which could send the company's strategy in the wrong direction, frustrate customers or worse.—
Rob Sanchez,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The biggest question mark would be matching Durant's massive salary.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Apr. 2025
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Their best at any position or role is matched fairly well by other powers in the West.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In financial settings, an AI system might misinterpret a rule and automatically process an incorrect transaction.—
Keren Katz,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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Do not sign an immigration form that includes incorrect information or blanks.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Will approach shots to the same places have the same results?—
Bob Spear,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2025
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Complicating matters, tech companies are approaching multiple power utility providers within the same state, or across several states seeking multiple bids for the same project, inflating power demand outlooks, investors and other power experts said.—
Laila Kearney,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Approximate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximate. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
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