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
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 scale
Tribune Content Agency, Mercury News, 23 May 2025
This week, the researchers reported their findings in Science Advances, concluding that the fish got shorter — on the scale of a few millimeters, or a small, single-digit percent of their length — in response to the heat wave.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 23 May 2025
Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 25 May 2025
The three ultra moderates also voiced alarm at their colleagues’ decision to scale back the mayor’s plan for increasing hiring at the fire department.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for scale
Noun
The effect of cannabis on water tables also depends on its cultivation scale.
—Tribune Content Agency, Mercury News, 23 May 2025
This week, the researchers reported their findings in Science Advances, concluding that the fish got shorter — on the scale of a few millimeters, or a small, single-digit percent of their length — in response to the heat wave.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 23 May 2025
Verb
According to the National Urban League, DEI job postings declined 44% from 2022 to 2023, and major companies like Google and Meta scaled back programs supporting Black talent.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 25 May 2025
The three ultra moderates also voiced alarm at their colleagues’ decision to scale back the mayor’s plan for increasing hiring at the fire department.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for scale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scale
Verb
-
The most telling way to measure Timber’s impact is that, even when White returned from injury in February, Arteta stuck with the Dutchman until he was lost to the ankle problem that kept him out for the final month of the season.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
-
Boyer and his colleagues measured the concentrations of ammonia and other gases in the air roughly five miles away from a colony of 60,000 Adélie penguins in Antarctica.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 May 2025
Verb
-
Still, the 25x formula serves as a quick and simple way to gauge whether someone is generally on track.—
Andrew Rosen,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
-
Such a select audience would provide the first opportunity to gauge just how successful the film has been at becoming the most immersive and accurate racing film of all time, as the producers intended.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scale. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share