as in balance
a device for measuring weight
I hate getting on the bathroom scale
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in hierarchy
a scheme of rank or order
a student who scored very highly on a standard intelligence scale
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to measure
to find out the size, extent, or amount of
scaled the logs to get a rough idea of the amount of usable lumber they were likely to yield
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scale
Michael J. Coren, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2026
In the gutter, the usual New Orleans blend of litter and live-oak leaves was topped by a shimmering layer of pink fish scales glinting in the sun.
—Daniel Brook, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
The company plans to transport Starships built in Texas via barge to Florida to help scale up the program and to begin launch operations there.
—Brandon Lingle, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scale
Noun
Tech companies are locked into a race to build artificial intelligence that comes down to speed and scale.
—Michael J. Coren, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2026
In the gutter, the usual New Orleans blend of litter and live-oak leaves was topped by a shimmering layer of pink fish scales glinting in the sun.
—Daniel Brook, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
Andersen said that while the agency is continuing to focus on cyberthreats, what has been scaled back or paused is the work to reduce systemic risk over time, make proactive assessments, coordinate planning, engage partners and strategic initiatives.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
The company plans to transport Starships built in Texas via barge to Florida to help scale up the program and to begin launch operations there.
—Brandon Lingle, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scale
Verb
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Bill Cooke, who leads NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office, told NBC News at the time that the fireball and sonic booms were likely caused by a small, 7-ton asteroid measuring around 6 feet across.—
Jesse Kirsch,
NBC news,
22 Mar. 2026
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The telescope will be used to observe the radio sky at frequencies below 50 MHz and will measure the low-frequency foreground of the universe.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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An Institute of Governmental Studies poll in August gauged interest in the potential candidacy of Newsom and Harris.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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Although streamflow gauges suggested that water levels were falling at Wahiawa dam by Friday afternoon, Parker said, the dam is not out of the woods.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scale. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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