as in reflects
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
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Recent Examples of approximates
His new deal approximates the five-year contracts Kyle Schwarber and Alex Bregman received from the Phillies and Cubs, respectively.
—
Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Rather, the league will enter a period of status quo that approximates normal working conditions.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The following map approximates locations based on Newsweek's review of publicly available sources.
—Nick Mordowanec
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Rather, the league will enter a period of status quo that approximates normal working conditions.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The following map approximates locations based on Newsweek's review of publicly available sources.
—Nick Mordowanec
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximates
Verb
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The granularity of Shriver’s vision reflects a mind as skilled at analyzing the reverberations of monetary policy in daily life as at depicting interiority.—
Adelle Waldman,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
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That profile reflects what has long set Rice apart.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These wooden beds are painted a shade of teal that echoes the doors on the outbuilding and matches the surrounding fence and gates to tie the entire space together.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Feb. 2026
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Hellstar’s name appears beneath the lateral collar in highlighter green, which matches the laces and branding.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And like the hairpin turns in the production all across the album, Jah-Monte approaches themes from different angles and pivots without breaking a sweat.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
10 Feb. 2026
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Vani Sayeed approaches projects with an artist’s eye and a deep appreciation for design history.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Approximates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximates. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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