scale 1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈskāl How to pronounce scale (audio)
Definition of scalenext
as in balance
a device for measuring weight I hate getting on the bathroom scale

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

scale

2 of 4

noun (2)

as in plate
a small thin piece of material that resembles an animal scale scales of mica were embedded in the granite

Synonyms & Similar Words

scale

3 of 4

noun (3)

1
as in hierarchy
a scheme of rank or order a student who scored very highly on a standard intelligence scale

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in spectrum
the distance or extent between possible extremes with the scale going from one to ten, what did you think of the movie?

Synonyms & Similar Words

scale

4 of 4

verb

as in to measure
to find out the size, extent, or amount of scaled the logs to get a rough idea of the amount of usable lumber they were likely to yield

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 scale
Noun
There are undoubtedly practical challenges in licensing works at this scale. — Zoey Forbes, The Dial, 7 July 2026 China pursues industrial policy at much greater scale and with more direct state authority. — Nili Gilbert, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Verb
Built by founders who spent over 15 years scaling HelloFresh, the brand brings deep expertise in customer-focused, reliable subscription services straight to your dog's bowl. — Rachel Cortez, USA Today, 8 July 2026 Skeptics doubt the model scales to studio budgets, and some top creators are rejecting Hollywood deals entirely, choosing to release original work directly on YouTube. — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for scale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scale
  1. balance
  2. plate
  3. hierarchy
  4. spectrum
  5. measure
  6. ladder
  7. range
  8. gauge
Noun
  • The space is a balance between tropical escape and late-night lounge, with moody lighting, sexy design elements and music that keeps the energy elevated throughout the evening.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • From entry-level IEMs to high-end studio headphones, the system is designed to enhance clarity, balance and translation across almost every listening system, unlocking their full potential for accurate, consistent monitoring.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of balance
Noun
  • The other took place before the fifth inning when home-plate umpire Scott Barry left the game and Manny Gonzalez needed time to assemble his gear.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 July 2026
  • With runners on second and third, in a 1-2 count, Pages extended to the outside edge of the plate to get around a slider and send it through the left side of the infield.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of plate
Noun
  • After what authorities are billing as a massive procession in central Tehran on Monday the remains will be taken to the seminary city of Qom, the centre of Iran's Shi'ite hierarchy, for ceremonies on Tuesday.
    — Parisa Hafezi, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Defenders of slavery claimed that the institution was required by the natural hierarchy of humans reflected in the Constitution’s provisions.
    — Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 2 July 2026
Definition of hierarchy
Noun
  • Advertisements extending beyond traditional commercial breaks to include live presenter endorsements and real-time odds promotions have sparked a fresh wave of indignation, with politicians across the political spectrum calling for tighter controls.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • As the tactical data is already physically encoded within the light spectrum itself, there is no need for complex, heavy reconstruction algorithms.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Definition of spectrum
Verb
  • MoneyLion ranked the nation's 50 most affluent suburbs by household income, as measured in the 2024 American Community Survey.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Researchers also measured static electric fields by observing how stray fields displaced the ion from its resting position.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Definition of measure
Noun
  • Attendants, some on the ladders of fire trucks, misted water across the crowds to cool them in the heat.
    — Nasser Karimi, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The journey climbing the ladder and becoming a respected manager is akin to training for elite competition, Nooyi added.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 6 July 2026
Definition of ladder
Noun
  • Whereas the federal incentive may have been enough to spark interest in a range of buyers, Moody said the lesser amount will probably appeal mainly to people who already have their eye on an EV.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Events listed on the calendar range from neighborhood gatherings and historical commemorations to concerts, family activities and civic engagement programs.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of range
Verb
  • Human fingertips have over 10,000 receptors to gauge touch, a natural feat that robotics has struggled to replicate.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
  • After conducting surveys and public forums to gauge community sentiment, open space staff will present its findings to the commission on Tuesday.
    — John Meyer, Denver Post, 29 June 2026
Definition of gauge

Browse Nearby Words

scalds
scale
scaled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scale. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on scale

Nglish: Translation of scale for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scale

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All