Purity is at best an approximation.
Source: tatoeba (2099613)
Approximation
/əˌpɹɒk.sɪˈmeɪ.ʃən/
Synonyms for "approximation" (210 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (42)
Strong matches (63)
Noun(17 words)
counting avoidancedang nearestimatesestimates market priceestimatingestimation senseestimationsgaugegaugesguessguess basedguessesguessingguesstimateguesstimatesguestimateidea
Verb(1 words)
Adjective(1 words)
icelandic nálægt
Related words (105)
imprecisioninaccuracyinaccuratenessincorrectnessinexactitudeinexactnessinstrumentationintegrationintercourseinterpolationintimacyinversioninvolutionjunctionlaxityliaisonlikenesslikeninglinklinkage
Show 67 more words
linkingloosenessmeasuremeasurementmeasuringmensurationmetaphormetric systemmimickingmultiplicationmutual attractionnearingnearnessnegligenceneighborhoodnighnessnotationoncomingorderparallelismparitypracticeprecinctpredictable errorprobable errorpropinquityproportionproximationproximitypurlieusquantificationquantizationrapportratingreductionrelatednessrelationrelationsrelationshipresemblancesamenesssemblancesimilaritysimilesimilitudesimulationstandard deviationsubtractionsurveysurveyingsympathytelemeteringtelemetrytietie intie-intolerancetransformationtriangulationuncorrectnessunfactualnessunionunprecisenessunrigorousnessvaluationvicinagevicinity
Noun(15 words)
interpolationsmodelnear valuenumber-line estimatenumerosityrepresentationrough calculationrough guessroundingrulerule of thumbsay the wordthereaboutthree digit number roundingwild guess
Adjective(3 words)
rough estimaterough guessworksmall deformation rule
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: estimate, estimation, access, accession, accord.
- Sentence evidence is available for approximation, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "approximation".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "approximation"
Keep "approximation" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "approximation" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "approximation", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "approximation" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
15 entriesMore specific
7 entriesCollocations
6 entriesapproximate valueapproximation methodballpark figureclose approximationnumerical approximationrough approximation
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesTranslations
36 translations across 25 languages.
Armenian
1 entries- մոտարկում noun (act of approximating)
Bulgarian
1 entries- приближение noun (act of approximating)
Danish
1 entries- tilnærmelse noun (act of approximating)
Dutch
2 entries- benaderen noun (act of approximating)
- schatten noun (act of approximating)
Finnish
3 entries- approksimointi noun (act of approximating)
- arvioiminen noun (act of approximating)
- lähestyminen noun (act of approximating)
French
1 entries- rapprochement noun (act of approximating)
Galician
1 entries- aproximación noun (act of approximating)
German
1 entries- Approximieren noun (act of approximating)
Greek
1 entries- προσέγγιση noun (act of approximating)
Hebrew
1 entries- קֵרוּב noun (act of approximating)
Hungarian
4 entries- harmonizáció noun (act of approximating)
- közeledés noun (act of approximating)
- közelítés noun (act of approximating)
- megközelítés noun (act of approximating)
Icelandic
1 entries- nálgun noun (act of approximating)
Indonesian
3 entries- aproksimasi noun (act of approximating)
- pendekatan noun (act of approximating)
- penghampiran noun (act of approximating)
Italian
1 entries- approssimazione noun (act of approximating)
Malay
2 entries- penganggaran noun (act of approximating)
- penghampiran noun (act of approximating)
Malayalam
1 entries- ഏകദേശം noun (act of approximating)
Māori
1 entries- whakaāwhiwhiwhitanga noun (act of approximating)
Norwegian Bokmål
2 entries- tilnærmelse noun (act of approximating)
- tilnærming noun (act of approximating)
Norwegian Nynorsk
1 entries- tilnærming noun (act of approximating)
Polish
1 entries- aproksymacja noun (act of approximating)
Portuguese
1 entries- aproximação noun (act of approximating)
Romanian
2 entries- aproximare noun (act of approximating)
- aproximație noun (act of approximating)
Russian
1 entries- приближе́ние noun (act of approximating)
Spanish
1 entries- aproximación noun (act of approximating)
Tagalog
1 entries- aproksimasyon noun (act of approximating)
Sample sentences
7 total sentences available.
It's not the exact value, but rather an approximation.
Source: tatoeba (9096806)
In computer science, a method of investigation based on the progressive approximation of a problem is called a heuristic.
Source: tatoeba (10472694)
It's only an approximation.
Source: tatoeba (12903442)
Showing 4 of 7 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "approximation"?
Closest matches include estimate, estimation, access, accession, accord.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "approximation"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.