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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The chaos in the markets has been reflected behind the scenes the business channels’ programming as well.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
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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TikTok has called the claims inaccurate and is appealing some of the rulings that have allowed the addiction suits to advance.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Behind him, Burney carried Leilani — outfitted in a matching onesie with her dad’s name and a pair of child-sized pink earphones — up to congratulate the man who willed Florida back to glory.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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Support your child's language development with age-appropriate activities that match strategies to their stage.—
Holly Garcia,
Parents,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Although some posters online have suggested the streetlamp are emitting ultraviolet or black light, that's incorrect, Davis said.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2025
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When that happens, inferring eligibility based on the tax unit claiming the child would be incorrect.—
Elaine Maag,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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But then, director Richard Donner approached the young actor.—
Kate Hogan,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Approximate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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