Tentative suggests a provisional or uncertain state, often due to a lack of complete information or confidence. It indicates a cautious approach, open to change.
Approximate implies being close to the actual value but not necessarily exact. It focuses on the degree of accuracy and suggests that the value is likely to be close to the true value but not precise.
Examples:
* Tentative: "We have a tentative plan for the trip, but it's subject to change."
* Approximate: "The approximate cost of the project is $10,000."
In summary:
* Tentative refers to uncertainty and cautiousness.
* Approximate refers to closeness to the actual value but not exactness.
While they can sometimes overlap, they emphasize different aspects of uncertainty.