CRITERIA Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

criteria

noun

variants also criterions

plural of criterion

as in standards

something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared one criterion for grading these essays will be their conformity to the rules of traditional grammar

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in characteristics

something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind an exceptionally high degree of physical risk is the preeminent criterion of an extreme sport

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 criteria City staff determined the two projects would be competitive for the grant program after reviewing the program criteria and city priorities, according to the staff report. — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026 You are not required to meet these criteria to be approved for a loan. — Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 The company also plans to automatically suspend a user's access when their search activity meets criteria for abnormal use. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026 Public school students could use the money for tutoring or special education therapies, although the Republican administration has not provided specific criteria for eligible expenses yet. — Bianca Vázquez Toness, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 On Tuesday, the Batavia City Council’s Committee of the Whole recommended for approval measures that would, if approved, limit the number of establishments with video gambling and impose certain criteria on where they can be located. — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026 The company has since been working on separate criteria for reporting cases that do not qualify as conventional security incidents. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026 Users can narrow potential introductions by age, location, interests and other personal criteria. — Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026 The report makes nearly 150 recommendations, including hiring a police sergeant to focus on campus events and creating clear criteria for when events must be moved indoors or to more controllable venues. — ABC News, 25 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for criteria

Noun

Professional societies and standards organizations will need to develop and regularly update the technical requirements.

— Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
Cornell University’s investigation, of course, did not have to adhere to New York’s arguably archaic criminal standards, but its response, too, has triggered anger and disbelief across airwaves and social media.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of standards

Noun

Specifically, the one from that parable where six blind men describe a beast based on just one of its characteristics.

— Shane O’Neill, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026
That is one of the clearest characteristics of an asset transitioning from a downtrend into an uptrend.

— Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of characteristics

Noun

The PCMark 10 tests were particularly disappointing, as these benchmarks gauge a system's general performance.

— Marshall Honorof, PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2026
Argon puts Google back in the AI race, with company benchmarks showing particular strength in long-context, coding, and enterprise-agent tasks.

— Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of benchmarks

Noun

Meanwhile, keep in mind that needing to update your business systems is a sign the company is growing and becoming more sophisticated—qualities that tend to indicate success and create opportunities for further expansion.

— Nellie Akalp, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
What makes vintage furniture appealing right now Vintage furniture offers qualities beyond simply recreating an older look.

— Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of qualities

Noun

There are also some interesting features of the actual delivery of the first two as well.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
In all, 129 features, documentaries and shorts will hit screens inside the Sie FilmCenter, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater, and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of features

Noun

Focus And Discernment Professionals from the private sector who come to the nonprofit sector bring several important skills and attributes, such as a clear focus and discernment that helps avoid mission drift.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Since the 1960s, cesium has been the element of choice, though clocks based on other metals, such as ytterbium or strontium, have been created for their own handy attributes.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of attributes

Noun

Meanwhile, Stallone endured an avalanche of rejections from agents who felt his slurry speech and asymmetrical mouth were liabilities — the very traits, of course, that would mark him as an original in a few short years.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Those details can help scientists trace traits associated with frogs and salamanders much further back in time.

— Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of traits

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crisscrossing

criteria

criterion

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“Criteria.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criteria. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of criteria

noun

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