gauge 1 of 2

variants also gage

gauge

2 of 2

noun

variants also gage

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun gauge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of gauge are criterion, standard, touchstone, and yardstick. While all these words mean "a means of determining what a thing should be," gauge applies to a means of testing a particular dimension (such as thickness, depth, diameter) or figuratively a particular quality or aspect.

polls as a gauge of voter dissatisfaction

When is criterion a more appropriate choice than gauge?

While the synonyms criterion and gauge are close in meaning, criterion may apply to anything used as a test of quality whether formulated as a rule or principle or not.

questioned the critic's criteria for excellence

When could standard be used to replace gauge?

While in some cases nearly identical to gauge, standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.

standards of behavior

Where would touchstone be a reasonable alternative to gauge?

The synonyms touchstone and gauge are sometimes interchangeable, but touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.

fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

How are the words yardstick and criterion related as synonyms of gauge?

Yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality.

housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

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 gauge
Verb
There's also a blood-oxygen-level-tracking pulse oximeter – which can be used to detect sleep apnea, and to measure stress or energy expenditure – along with an optical skin temperature sensor for gauging body temperature or tracking ovulation. Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 8 Apr. 2025 Beginning this week, America’s corporate bosses will have to publicly address how to gauge and respond to President Donald Trump’s chaos-inducing attempt to massively reorder the global economy. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
The gauge is now down 7.7 points since registering a post Covid peak of 105.1 in December of last year. Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025 Flood watches and warnings are in place across multiple states, and river gauges are already marking some rivers in major flood stage. Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gauge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gauge
Verb
  • The researchers also calculated how much each company's pollution contributed to the five hottest days of the year using 80 more computer simulations and then applying a formula that connects extreme heat intensity to changes in economic output.
    CBS News, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The Peterson Institute for International Economics calculated that tariffs could, at most, replace 40% of income tax revenues, but even that would require high tariffs that are likely to drive a recession, according to Clausing.
    Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • But perhaps Grindle’s most lasting contribution won’t be measured in towers raised or contracts won.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • From tracking heart rate and sleep patterns to measuring blood oxygen levels, smartwatches are helping people stay more in tune with their health than ever before.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • As a true indicator of simpler times, an organizer would join forces with an injector to offer neurotoxin aesthetic treatments on a budget for a wide group of attendees.
    Dahvi Shira, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Trump's approval rating is a key indicator of changing public opinion.
    Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Taylor Swift's legal battle against former radio DJ David Mueller was one touchstone.
    Nick Romano, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Steve Buffington is an aficionado of curling, a sport that is a touchstone of Canadian culture and has a small band of devotees in Pittsburgh.
    Billy Witz, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Michigan product doesn't ever figure to be much of a force as a pass-rusher, though, and teams may not want to invest a first-round pick on a one-dimensional player.
    Bryce Lazenby, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Without the freedom to experiment, fail and figure things out the hard way, the products, software, and systems that are normative in our day-to-day experience would have never come into existence.
    Colleen Batchelder, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The other three in the series featured a dark mother-of-pearl dial, a lapis lazuli dial and a turquoise dial.
    Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Either way, evolving dial variants seem inevitable.
    Steven Rogers, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The good news is that businesses can design AI systems that approximate Rawls' fairness principles.
    Nate Bennett, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Tottenham abandoned those principles against the champions-in-waiting, offering gifts in dangerous areas from which the Liverpool attackers profited.
    Elias Burke, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 26% of adults and 19% of children in the United States have seasonal allergies.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The company estimates that power will return throughout Spain between 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
    Solcyré Burga, Time, 28 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gauge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gauge. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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