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criteria

noun

variants also criterions
plural of criterion
1
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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 Under the order, GovOps would be required to create third-party safety criteria for AI developers by May 2027 and implement them by December 2027. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026 Someone can meet criteria for severe AUD at age 21, and then, with treatments, brain maturation, lifestyle changes and/or years of abstinence, be diagnosis-free at age 40. — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026 The American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC also recommend vaccinating infants against RSV based on certain criteria. — Ann Sheehan, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026 The manual also notes that social criteria at the farm level are not currently required for natural-fiber standards, though they could be introduced in future revisions. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026 The removal of film festivals as one of the criteria deciding film fund budgets will likely further isolate the Israeli cinema industry. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026 Brown’s name was retroactively added to the list to meet settlement criteria. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026 Sites should be assessed using common criteria, similar locations should follow the same deployment pattern and validation procedures should be clearly defined. — Susan Odle, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 The order gives Interior Secretary Doug Burgum 90 days to determine whether the wolves have met federal recovery criteria for delisting or downlisting under the Endangered Species Act. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for criteria
  1. standards
  2. characteristics
  3. benchmarks
  4. qualities
  5. features
  6. attributes
  7. traits
  8. attributions
Noun
  • This could simplify operations for carriers that operate aircraft with both engine standards.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The Senate has been addressing this week nominee confirmations and a bipartisan college sports bill to create standards on how athletes are paid, priorities that Republicans warn present poor optics to voters.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of standards
Noun
  • Their experiments examined several characteristics associated with genuine antiferroelectric behavior.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
  • According to the company, the five-minute flight allowed an initial evaluation of handling qualities, aerodynamic characteristics, and system performance, gathering data to guide the next testing phases.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of characteristics
Noun
  • In multi-core CPU benchmarks, the M6’s performance is roughly 20 percent faster than the M5.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Our industry can lose sight of that because wealth management firms are very good at measuring things, like returns, benchmarks and expense ratios.
    — Brian Duggan, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of benchmarks
Noun
  • Iron is long associated with immune support, soda is believed to aid digestion, arsenic is traditionally used to soothe arthritic pain, and lithia is prized for its calming qualities.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026
  • However, the leap from these qualities to assuming, hyperbolically, that AI will become a competitor, even a predatory species ready to eliminate us, is a fantastical step too far.
    — Keith Tidman, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of qualities
Noun
  • This is the visual flow of the arrangement, which is characterized by the repetition of elements or features.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 19 Sep. 2026
  • One of its most inventive features was the rolleron, a small toothed wheel mounted on each rear fin.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of features
Noun
  • And the sleek Schmiede version encompasses all the Nugget's best attributes – three-room design, available rear toilet and available all-wheel drive.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Brands must audit their digital shelf and ensure the attributes AI systems are likely to use are complete and consistent.
    — Max Sinclair, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of attributes
Noun
  • The early amphibian is described in a study published today in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, and is an example of how some of the classic traits seen in today’s living frogs and salamanders evolved.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The traits measure a player’s attitude, toughness, discipline, love for the game and commitment to his teammates.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of traits
Noun
  • Yet many appeared eager to take Feldstein’s shifting attributions at face value.
    — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
  • In two cases, the publishers added specific attributions, as had been required of Miller’s book.
    — Jessica Meszaros, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of attributions

Browse Nearby Words

crisscrossing
criteria
criterion
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Cite this Entry

“Criteria.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/criteria. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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