assess

verb

ə-ˈses How to pronounce assess (audio)
Definition of assessnext
1
as in to impose
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty the utility company will assess a fee if your payment is late

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to estimate
to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding let's step back and assess the situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb assess differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of assess are appraise, estimate, evaluate, rate, and value. While all these words mean "to judge something with respect to its worth or significance," 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

Where would appraise be a reasonable alternative to assess?

Although the words appraise and assess have much in common, 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 would estimate be a good substitute for assess?

In some situations, the words estimate and assess are roughly equivalent. However, 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

When is evaluate a more appropriate choice than assess?

The synonyms evaluate and assess are sometimes interchangeable, but evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary.

evaluate a student's work

How do rate and estimate relate to one another, in the sense of assess?

Rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values.

a highly rated restaurant

How are the words value and appraise related as synonyms of assess?

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 assess The company then performs its own environmental and life cycle analysis, and can assess factors like transport distance and method to arrive at its impact measurement. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 3 Apr. 2025 This seems to have surprised many who assessed his rhetoric as just more hype likely to fall prey to the same institutional constraints and poor execution that hampered Trump in his first term. — Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2025 The Bernstein expert still tried to assess the potential financial impact of possible future tariff moves. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2025 And on the Wisconsin side, an assistant coach was assessed a technical foul on the sideline. — Sam Blum, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for assess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assess
  1. impose
  2. estimate
  3. charge
  4. value
  5. evaluate
Verb
  • Meanwhile, residents across Connecticut live with among the highest energy costs in the nation, and fears of inflation as tariffs are imposed, federal agencies face closure and massive numbers of federal workers lose their jobs.
    — Staff report, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2025
  • As played by the game's Laura Bailey, Abby is imposing and very muscular.
    — Randall Colburn, EW.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of impose
Verb
  • Analysts estimate Meta could gain between $2.46 billion and $3.38 billion in additional ad revenue in 2025 if TikTok is banned.
    — Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • With the average global tariff at approximately 18%, U.S. economic growth will slow to around 1% for the next several quarters, with inflation rising back to 5%, estimated Mark Dowding, BlueBay chief investment officer at RBC Global Asset Management.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of estimate
Verb
  • When his son was charged in 2022, Jones Jr., to no one’s surprise, rose to his defense.
    — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Nearly two years after her initial sentencing in Idaho, Lori is now preparing for her trial in Arizona after being charged with one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the 2019 death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow.
    — Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of charge
Verb
  • Backed by $60 million in venture capital and at one time valued at $200 million, Whisper’s promise of a place to share their secrets anonymously had drawn millions of users.
    — Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Marvell Technology — Shares pulled back 1.9% after popping more than 7% midday following the company’s agreement to sell its auto ethernet business to Infineon Technologies in an all-cash deal valued at $2.5 billion.
    — Sean Conlon, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of value
Verb
  • Yes, those who raise chickens have a steady supply of organic fertilizer, so keep this significant gardening enhancement in mind when evaluating whether chickens are for you.
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The girl was later evaluated at a hospital near Greensburg.
    — Kate Linderman, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of evaluate

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Cite this Entry

“Assess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assess. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.

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