approximate
Come close to
Approximate means close but not exact.
An approximate figure or estimate is near the true value but not precise.
As a verb, to approximate is to come close to something: His description approximates the truth.
Two things that approximate each other are similar: The color approximates what I had in mind.
The adjective stresses "ah-PROK-sih-mit," the verb "ah-PROK-sih-MATE."
Informed guess at quantity
- guesstimateRough, intuitive calculation
- ballparkSports venue or estimate
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
reckoning · assessment · conjecture · speculation · extrapolation · inference · back-of-envelope · spitball
Lacking full accuracy
- impreciseLacking exactness or accuracy
- roughUneven in surface
- looseNot firmly secured
- fuzzySoft and unclear
vague · unclear · ballpark · rounded · general · nonspecific · unrefined · coarse
Appear similar to
- similarResembling another thing
- analogousComparable in certain respects
- comparableAble to be likened
- likeComparable to, or enjoy
akin · parallel · corresponding · equivalent · matching · resembling · cognate · tantamount
Estimate intermediate values
- extrapolateExtend known data outward
- roundCurved like circle
- truncateCut off abruptly
- linearizeMake into a line
converge · iterate · asymptotic · limit · numerical · algorithm · regression · tolerance
close
Nearby or to shut
around · roughly · about · circa · thereabouts · nearing · more-or-less · toward
estimate
Informed guess at quantity
- guesstimateRough, intuitive calculation
- ballparkSports venue or estimate
- projectionSomething that extends outward
forecast · reckoning · assessment · conjecture · speculation · extrapolation · inference · back-of-envelope · spitball · eyeball
inexact
Lacking full accuracy
fuzzy · vague · unclear · ballpark · rounded · general · nonspecific · unrefined · coarse · sketchy
resemble
Appear similar to
- similarResembling another thing
- analogousComparable in certain respects
- comparableAble to be likened
like · akin · parallel · corresponding · equivalent · matching · resembling · cognate · tantamount · verging
interpolate
Estimate intermediate values
- extrapolateExtend known data outward
- roundCurved like circle
- truncateCut off abruptly
linearize · converge · iterate · asymptotic · limit · numerical · algorithm · regression · tolerance · rounding
- Imprecisevague, fuzzy, rough, hazy, murky
- Precision Levelsrough, general, exact, precise, pinpoint
- math verbsadd, adds, subtract, subtracts, multiply
- approximationsabout, around, roughly, almost, nearly
- comparison verbscompare, contrast, differentiate, distinguish, juxtapose
- almostalmost, nearly, about, roughly, practically
approximateexact
Perfectly correct, no deviation
precise · accurate · dead-on · ultraprecise · spot-on
approximatedefinite
Clearly established, not vague
certain · absolute · unqualified · categorical · indubitable
approximately, approximation, approximating, approximated, approximates, approximations, approximative