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
Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025
Arcuri specified that this implies a $1 billion revenue impact, assuming that $500 million of these charges are related to inventory and when assuming an approximate 50% gross margin.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 16 May 2025
The good news is that businesses can design AI systems that approximate Rawls' fairness principles.
—Nate Bennett, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Adjective
Air Traffic Control Salary The approximate median annual wage for air traffic control specialists is $127,805, according to FAA data last updated in February.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025
Arcuri specified that this implies a $1 billion revenue impact, assuming that $500 million of these charges are related to inventory and when assuming an approximate 50% gross margin.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
The ratio approximates a measure of whether a patient has amyloid plaques in their brains − a disease hallmark that is now detected by images from expensive PET scans.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 16 May 2025
The good news is that businesses can design AI systems that approximate Rawls' fairness principles.
—Nate Bennett, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for approximate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximate
Adjective
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The idea behind these planter/benches is easy enough to understand: create some opportunities for residents to find shade on hot days in a neighborhood considered to be a classic urban heat island due to its relative dearth of trees.—
Thomas E. Weber,
Time,
6 June 2025
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However, strong competition from Japan’s Fujifilm, a relative upstart founded in 1934, put pressure on Kodak in the late 1990s pushing it to the brink of bankruptcy in 2011.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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At the Phineas and Ferb season 5 premiere, Baker reflected on the deeper meaning behind the fan-favorite character.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
7 June 2025
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This anxiety from foreigners about travel to the US in 2025 is increasingly reflected in the numbers.—
Jason Carroll,
CNN Money,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Of course, using AI models for intelligence analysis raises concerns about confabulation, where the models generate plausible-sounding, inaccurate information.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
6 June 2025
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Retailers today face a complex mix of labor shortages, inconsistent customer service, inaccurate inventory data and rising customer expectations.—
Brett Beveridge,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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The singer donned a completely sheer Ludovic de Saint Sernin gown to promote her new record on Wednesday, June 4, at Rockefeller Center in New York City, accentuating her chic look with matching black underwear and no bra in a risqué, NSFW Instagram post.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
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That matches Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar as the fastest active defenseman to that mark.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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The senators are incorrect three times, and surely more.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
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But here’s the twist: both might technically be incorrect.—
Simon Perry,
People.com,
27 May 2025
Verb
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With cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency approaching 300,000, per Challenger, Gray & Christmas, this will be a space to watch closely as unemployment benefits and severance pay run out.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
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The video shows the rescue organization slowly approaching the dog, who is now named Beans.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Approximate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximate. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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