the Richter scale
noun
technical
: a system of measurement used for showing the strength of an earthquake
The earthquake measured 4.5 on the Richter scale.
Examples of the Richter scale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
An earthquake measuring a colossal 7.8 on the Richter scale set off two avalanches from opposite directions that leveled those at the foot of the mountain.
—
Sabrina Ithal, Outside Online, 15 Sep. 2022
Just last Friday, Feb. 7, a minor earthquake struck Santa Clara County, Calif., registering a modest 3.3 on the Richter scale.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 10 Feb. 2025
This alarming seismic shift in power from Congress to the White House, the equivalent of an 8.0 on the Richter scale, goes unmentioned.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025
Much like the Richter scale for earthquakes, this classification system is logarithmic, with each step representing a tenfold increase in energy.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for the Richter scale
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.
Sabrina Ithal, Outside Online, 15 Sep. 2022
Just last Friday, Feb. 7, a minor earthquake struck Santa Clara County, Calif., registering a modest 3.3 on the Richter scale.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 10 Feb. 2025
This alarming seismic shift in power from Congress to the White House, the equivalent of an 8.0 on the Richter scale, goes unmentioned.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025
Much like the Richter scale for earthquakes, this classification system is logarithmic, with each step representing a tenfold increase in energy.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for the Richter scale
Cite this Entry
“The Richter scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20Richter%20scale. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share