YARDSTICK Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'yardstick' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of yardstick are criterion , gauge , standard , and touchstone . While all these words mean "a means of determining what a thing should be," yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality. // housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

Q: When is 'criterion' a more appropriate choice than 'yardstick'?

The meanings of criterion and yardstick largely overlap; however, 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

Q: When might 'gauge' be a better fit than 'yardstick'?

The words gauge and yardstick are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Q: When would 'standard' be a good substitute for 'yardstick'?

While the synonyms standard and yardstick are close in meaning, standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority. // standards of behavior

Q: When could 'touchstone' be used to replace 'yardstick'?

While in some cases nearly identical to yardstick , touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible. // fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

yardstick

noun

ˈyärd-ˌstik

Definition of yardstick next

as in criterion

something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared this essay will be the yardstick by which I grade the others

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun yardstick contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of yardstick are criterion, gauge, standard, and touchstone. While all these words mean "a means of determining what a thing should be," yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality.

housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

When is criterion a more appropriate choice than yardstick?

The meanings of criterion and yardstick largely overlap; however, 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 might gauge be a better fit than yardstick?

The words gauge and yardstick are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 would standard be a good substitute for yardstick?

While the synonyms standard and yardstick are close in meaning, standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.

standards of behavior

When could touchstone be used to replace yardstick?

While in some cases nearly identical to yardstick, touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.

fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

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 yardstick Bottom line Ponder next a yardstick of a Californian’s relative buying power compared with other states. —

Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register, 20 Dec. 2024 To discover why everyone in Vienna is so happy, the Michelin Guide Austria will be a great yardstick when it is relaunched in January 2025. —

Sarah James, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Nov. 2024 The retreat is raising new questions about the future of HRC’s influential yardstick of company behavior, the Corporate Equality Index. —

Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024 Value bet Domino’s fits into Berkshire’s value investment philosophy, focused on cash flow and price-to-earnings and price-to-book-value yardsticks. —

Yun Li, CNBC, 24 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for yardstick

Recent Examples of Synonyms for yardstick

Noun

The executive order signed by the president on Thursday called for the establishment of a working group on digital assets, whose tasks include proposing criteria for a crypto reserve.

— Anna Gleason, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2025
Discussions have included limiting the total amount students can borrow and tightening eligibility criteria for non-citizens.

— Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025