Synonym Chooser

How does the noun criterion contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of criterion are gauge, standard, touchstone, and yardstick. While all these words mean "a means of determining what a thing should be," criterion may apply to anything used as a test of quality whether formulated as a rule or principle or not.

questioned the critic's criteria for excellence

When is gauge a more appropriate choice than criterion?

While in some cases nearly identical to criterion, gauge applies to a means of testing a particular dimension (such as thickness, depth, diameter) or figuratively a particular quality or aspect.

polls as a gauge of voter dissatisfaction

When could standard be used to replace criterion?

Although the words standard and criterion have much in common, standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.

standards of behavior

When is it sensible to use touchstone instead of criterion?

The meanings of touchstone and criterion largely overlap; however, touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.

fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

How do yardstick and criterion relate to one another?

Yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality.

housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

Example 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 criterion The criteria used to choose their targets is a mystery. Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2025 The ratings run across three criteria: capital, liquidity and governance and controls. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 10 July 2025 Nigerians who met certain criteria could even renew their US visas without needing to attend an embassy or consulate interview. Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 9 July 2025 At the same time, interest rates and stricter lending criteria have significantly increased the cost of borrowing, which is often a lifeline for small businesses to grow—and even survive. Juliana Berger, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for criterion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criterion
Noun
  • Santa Cruz, for example, has a standard that developers can’t use vinyl windows.
    Kate Talerico, Mercury News, 14 July 2025
  • Flickering habitability The landscape turned arid, judging by Earth’s standards, roughly 3.5 billion years ago.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • There are nearly 50 species of pine trees native to North America with diverse characteristics and growing preferences.
    Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2025
  • For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor.
    Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • In June, state economists announced those benchmarks won’t be hit.
    Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 13 July 2025
  • The 10,000-step benchmark started as a marketing strategy for a 1960s Japanese pedometer, not a medical recommendation.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • More services will be added and when the service goes live, other features will be available to Android users, including multimedia messaging, picture messaging, and short audio clips.
    David Phelan, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • At 44-feet long, the town's new ladder truck has a compact wheelbase for improved maneuverability— an essential feature for navigating the town’s narrower roads and residential areas, Interim Fire Chief Matthew Lupo explained.
    Gabrielle Chenault, The Tennessean, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • Private domestic demand, a more telling measure of the economy’s underlying health, increased a solid 1.9%.
    Paul Davidson, USA Today, 13 July 2025
  • Threats, revisions, new punitive measures and delays continue to fill the news.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 13 July 2025
  • These digital employees are property—tools operated by or on behalf of the business entity that deploys them—and the legal and economic relationships around output quality, liability and so on are all assigned to the company.
    David G.W. Birch, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • What wasn’t reported was Rivera’s aversion to pitches coming near him, a trait that’s fatal to long-term hitting success.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2025
  • This industry-wide trait is also reflected in valuation standards.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
Noun
  • Delap’s performance was less easy to evaluate, but there were more signs that his speed, aggression and direct running are excellent raw attributes to work with.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • One of Hargitay’s themes is the toxicity of fame, especially when it’s awarded not for your accomplishments but your attributes.
    Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Criterion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criterion. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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