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
The blast propelled a massive fireball into the night sky, sent a shock wave of flying shrapnel that flattened Port Chicago and measured 3.4 on the Richter scale in nearby Berkeley.
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Katie Lauer, The Mercury News, 17 July 2024
Despite the earthquake’s low ranking on the Richter scale, which measures the strength of earthquakes, it could also be detected in Wilmington, Delaware, and Washington, according to USGS.
—Lizzy Alspach, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2024
An earthquake Monday night in Montgomery County that measured a magnitude of 1.8 on the Richter scale shook up residents in Columbia and other locations, according to the United States Geological Survey.
—Lizzy Alspach, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2024
There is no definitive measurement of that quake since the Richter scale has only been around since the mid-1930s, but the tectonic shift still killed 60 people.
—Fox News, 21 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for the Richter scale 
Katie Lauer, The Mercury News, 17 July 2024
Despite the earthquake’s low ranking on the Richter scale, which measures the strength of earthquakes, it could also be detected in Wilmington, Delaware, and Washington, according to USGS.
—Lizzy Alspach, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2024
An earthquake Monday night in Montgomery County that measured a magnitude of 1.8 on the Richter scale shook up residents in Columbia and other locations, according to the United States Geological Survey.
—Lizzy Alspach, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2024
There is no definitive measurement of that quake since the Richter scale has only been around since the mid-1930s, but the tectonic shift still killed 60 people.
—Fox News, 21 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for the Richter scale
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the Richter scale.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“The Richter scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20Richter%20scale. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
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