assess

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb assess differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of assess are appraise, estimate, evaluate, rate, and value. While all these words mean "to judge something with respect to its worth or significance," assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action.

officials are trying to assess the damage

Where would appraise be a reasonable alternative to assess?

Although the words appraise and assess have much in common, appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment.

having their house appraised

When would estimate be a good substitute for assess?

In some situations, the words estimate and assess are roughly equivalent. However, estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out.

estimated the crowd at two hundred

When is evaluate a more appropriate choice than assess?

The synonyms evaluate and assess are sometimes interchangeable, but evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary.

evaluate a student's work

How do rate and estimate relate to one another, in the sense of assess?

Rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values.

a highly rated restaurant

How are the words value and appraise related as synonyms of assess?

Value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment.

a watercolor valued by the donor at $500

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of assess Dozens of biologists will fan out across the western Joshua tree’s range and take measurements from each population to assess how the plants are doing, with the goal of returning every seven years to measure changes over time. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024 Their months-long deliberations included engaging with the Israeli government and assessing its claim that its own courts could handle the matter. Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2024 Just Futures Law wrote to Hysen earlier this year, questioning the fairness of using an algorithm to assess whether someone is a flight risk and raising concerns over how much data SmartLINK collects. Sarah Parvini, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2024 In a larger effort, Hoskin and colleagues recently assessed the habitat ranges of 55 eastern Australian frog species, including 25 affected by Bd. Martin J. Kernan, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for assess 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assess
Verb
  • But the court found that narrow limits can be imposed to serve overriding state interests.
    Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Brazilian Supreme Court’s Justice Alexandre de Moraes imposed the ban, citing misinformation on X, which the judge felt was not adequately moderated on the platform.
    Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Along with hundreds of deaths, damage from all storms this season is estimated at more than $190 billion.
    Greg Allen, NPR, 29 Nov. 2024
  • In 2011, the American Physical Society estimated that DAC costs would range from $600 to $1,000 per ton of CO₂, calling into question its economic viability.
    Phil De Luna, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office later arrested and charged a man who made public comments about harming FEMA employees.
    Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024
  • Sanchez will use a charging station on Terminal Island’s Pier S to refuel the $400,000 big-rig.
    Pat Maio, Orange County Register, 16 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • That Respects Cultural Differences Building a unique company culture that values diverse backgrounds is key.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Traditional wisdom warned against it, but this approach attracted passionate customers and partners who valued the mission.
    Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The measure, unveiled in February as the 2024 election cycle was just heating up, would have provided $20 billion to add hundreds more Border Patrol agents and to hire thousands of additional officers to evaluate asylum claims.
    John C. Moritz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
  • This will make advanced data analysis easier to enter, synthesize and evaluate new third-party data as events evolve.
    Robert Clark, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near assess

Cite this Entry

“Assess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assess. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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