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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Prices in March were up 2.3% from a year ago, according to the Fed's preferred inflation yardstick. Scott Horsley, NPR, 7 May 2025 Remember, the Realtor yardstick assumes buyers spend 30% of their income based on a mortgage with a 20% down payment, with an additional 1.4% of the purchase price going toward property taxes and insurance. Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 13 May 2025 Funds from operations, a standard financial yardstick at real estate companies, reached $1.1 billion, or $2.95 per diluted share, for the first quarter, compared with $1.09 billion, or $2.91 per diluted share in the prior year. David Moin, Footwear News, 13 May 2025 To be fair, this payment yardstick is off 2% in a year. Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register, 17 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for yardstick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yardstick
Noun
  • Auckland City is the reigning champion of the New Zealand National League and met the qualifying criteria in the most convincing fashion.
    James Nalton, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • This lack of access disproportionately affects people in lower-income communities, as well as women in midlife who may not meet strict insurance criteria.
    Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • Some of those tracks remain standards from that era and rank not just among the most successful, but also the most critically acclaimed of all time.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • The court's majority found that Tennessee's law is not subject to a heightened level of judicial review and satisfies the most deferential standard, known as rational basis.
    June 18, CBS News, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • The new car will bolster safety to new benchmarks with an ergonomic driver cockpit to improve seating position, an integrated aeroscreen and a new roll hoop.
    Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
  • The cryptocurrency exchange El Dorado — often used as a benchmark for Monitor Dólar — also shut down operations in Venezuela following the arrests.
    Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • The survey also found that policy measures, such as tariffs, have not reassured the public, with 57 percent of respondents believing that tariffs harm the economy, the highest level recorded by Fox News polling.
    Jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
  • Redefining Success Beyond Traditional Metrics: Gen Z measures success holistically, according to EY.
    Chris Westfall, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Yardstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yardstick. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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