as in equivalent
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as in approaching
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of approximating
Alan Bradley, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
During these tests, the platform demonstrated its ability to perform tasks in conditions approximating real combat scenarios.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
Only the handful of relegation-proof Premier League clubs have anything approximating US sport franchise valuations, because everyone else’s value could evaporate as a result of a bad season or two.
—Andrés Martinez, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
In the field of cosmology, approximating dark energy with a cosmological constant has been remarkably successful since its presence was first revealed in the late 1990s.
—Big Think, 1 Apr. 2026
The authors suggest that the Democratic preference, approximating a more native pronunciation, was motivated by greater multicultural sensitivity.
—Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
But he is also credited with the invention of a screw water pump — still used in power plants today — and a means of approximating pi, among many other things.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026
In these walls of white noise, Martin channels Paysage d’Hiver, a Swiss black-metal artist who has made a whole career—and a lot of lore—out of approximating winter storms through blindingly white guitar fuzz and overwhelming dark-ambient atmospheres.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
In the others, researchers cranked up the heat in greenhouses, approximating the effects of global warming.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
So, which games are best for approximating the challenges Artemis will face in settling the moon's surface?
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
During these tests, the platform demonstrated its ability to perform tasks in conditions approximating real combat scenarios.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
Only the handful of relegation-proof Premier League clubs have anything approximating US sport franchise valuations, because everyone else’s value could evaporate as a result of a bad season or two.
—Andrés Martinez, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
In the field of cosmology, approximating dark energy with a cosmological constant has been remarkably successful since its presence was first revealed in the late 1990s.
—Big Think, 1 Apr. 2026
The authors suggest that the Democratic preference, approximating a more native pronunciation, was motivated by greater multicultural sensitivity.
—Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
But he is also credited with the invention of a screw water pump — still used in power plants today — and a means of approximating pi, among many other things.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026
In these walls of white noise, Martin channels Paysage d’Hiver, a Swiss black-metal artist who has made a whole career—and a lot of lore—out of approximating winter storms through blindingly white guitar fuzz and overwhelming dark-ambient atmospheres.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2026
In the others, researchers cranked up the heat in greenhouses, approximating the effects of global warming.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approximating
Adjective
-
After a faulty cooling system was left to disrepair, rising temperatures resulted in an explosion with the equivalent force of 70-100 tons of TNT.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Winners of the four elite races (men’s and women’s runners and the equivalent wheelchair athletes) receive $55,000 (£40,800).—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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By the time selling experimental and theraputic peptides to people who had watched athletes on steroids race for a million dollars was no longer a fever dream but an approaching reality, D’Souza felt his work was done.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
30 Apr. 2026
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Orders of protection barring him from approaching his victims were issued, prosecutors said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In comparable territory, The Outsiders keeps things earnest, and even Stranger Things, for all its loopiness, plays its baby-monster antihero story tragic and straight.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
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The legislation also includes the implementation of a public online database displaying information on DCF’s performance comparable to federal standards and additional mandatory training for DCF employees.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However, the Estée Lauder color brand declined 25 percent, reflecting a tough comparison base compared to the same time last year.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Malloy notes that the practice has expanded its reach through telehealth while also introducing in-person services in response to patient preferences, reflecting an adaptive, hybrid model.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Within the first camp, which was preserved because the Romans built a road over it, archaeologists discovered two identical groups of rooms adjacent to a larger one that contained a hearth, according to a press release.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
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In it, a thin wooden beam with two lead balls on its ends was suspended from a wire at its center and then a structure that had heavier lead balls and was otherwise identical was stacked on top of the first beam.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Decked out in matching Route 66 button-up shirts that featured a map of the iconic road, the married couple set out on a road trip to celebrate the centennial.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Trump’s order coincides with the coming launch of the Saver’s Match, a 2022 initiative of the Biden administration that delivers up to $1,000 a year in matching retirement contributions for lower-income workers.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
What’s going on there is analogous to what the oil business did in Houston and Dallas.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Indeed, in star-forming regions such as the Trifid, the radiation sculpts the nebulosity in a way that is somewhat analogous to how wind sculpts rocks in the desert.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s equal to roughly 13% of the total revenues that supported the state budget at that time.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Survivors can apply for equal shares of the payment if the person has died.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Approximating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approximating. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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