Synonyms of yardstick

yardstick

noun

ˈyärd-ˌstik 

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

• criterion
• standard
• benchmark
• measure
• metric
• barometer
• touchstone
• example
• gold standard
• grade
• par
• rule
• instance
• mark
• bar
• norm
• average
• case
• pinnacle
• apex
• peak
• summit
• zenith
• meridian
• acme

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deviation
• abnormality
• aberration

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

Recent Examples of yardstick

In the matter of handmade placards—Magic Marker on cardboard, duct-taped to wooden yardsticks—there was a certain amount of politico-literary one-upmanship. —Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025

Netflix wants to throw another type of yardstick into the ever-evolving pile of audience-measurement tools. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025

Accountability is easier when the yardstick is clear. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025

Water is the universal yardstick of comet science, the baseline for measuring how sunlight drives a comet's activity and releases other gases. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025