gauge 1 of 2

variants also gage

gauge

2 of 2

noun

variants also gage

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun gauge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of gauge are criterion, standard, touchstone, and yardstick. While all these words mean "a means of determining what a thing should be," 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 is criterion a more appropriate choice than gauge?

While the synonyms criterion and gauge are close in meaning, 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 could standard be used to replace gauge?

While in some cases nearly identical to gauge, standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.

standards of behavior

Where would touchstone be a reasonable alternative to gauge?

The synonyms touchstone and gauge are sometimes interchangeable, but touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.

fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

How are the words yardstick and criterion related as synonyms of gauge?

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 gauge
Verb
The Guadalupe’s river gauge at the unincorporated community of Hunt, where the river forks, recorded a 22 foot rise (6.7 meters) in just about two hours, according to Bob Fogarty, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 4 July 2025 Fogarty said the gauge failed after recording a level of 29½ feet. Hannah Fingerhut, arkansasonline.com, 4 July 2025
Noun
The sitting-rising test isn’t the only option to help gauge longevity either. Korin Miller, SELF, 7 July 2025 Was that a clue that the president wants blame to land at the Fed and not the White House? Investors will be looking at the U.S. federal government’s official jobs number, due out this morning, to gauge whether the Trump administration is helping or hurting the economy. Jim Edwards, Fortune, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for gauge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gauge
Verb
  • Public fortunes were calculated based on stock prices and exchange rates as on June 13.
    Phisanu Phromchanya, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • That’s partly because the budget wasn’t released, and because DeSantis — who has seen the state budget balloon by 26% on his watch — used some creative accounting to calculate the total.
    Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Don’t measure your progress by job titles or years in one role.
    Minh Pham-Costello, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • What to know about earthquakes Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey says.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • But Burke, with the mining association, pointed to two recent positive indicators for the industry: more U.S. coal getting exported overseas and a surge in the amount of electricity generated by burning coal during the first four months of 2025 compared with the same period last year.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 8 July 2025
  • Mellinger now worries the department will not be able to meet its five-year goals for key performance indicators, which measure progress on the county’s biggest public health challenges.
    Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • And, yet, there is little to indicate that anything other than defense will remain the franchise touchstone.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
  • And no one has strayed more than Danielle: straying from the light, straying from human decency, and, if the literary and cultural touchstone Cop Without a Badge is to be believed, straying from the law.
    Eddie Mouradian, Vulture, 11 June 2025
Verb
  • This year’s snub doesn’t figure to start a trend, however, as incoming freshman guard Darryn Peterson is ESPN.com’s early choice to be selected No. 1 overall in June 2026.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2025
  • Walker Buehler has spent weeks now trying to figure things out.
    Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • The Luminor collection is known for its signature crown protection device with lever and its luminous dial, offering optimal readability in all conditions.
    Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The newcomer is elegant, too, with a 38 mm gold case and a sparkling new dial crafted from aventurine enamel.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • That country has agreed in principle to a 40% tariff on any goods that flow across its borders from China, which has happened with increasing frequency as the United States has ramped up barriers to goods coming from China directly.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 9 July 2025
  • Working to apply this precise principle across his firm’s estate of technologies is Raghu Malpani in his role as chief technology officer at agentic automation company UiPath.
    Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • Her bags are kept behind glass and her collection includes what's called a Himalayan diamond Birkin, which is estimated to be worth as much as $500,000.
    Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • First seen barreling toward the camera at speeds only the most brazen digital effects house could estimate, this mutt runs like the wind and pounces like an anvil with hairy legs and a neat red cape.
    Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gauge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gauge. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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