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
The Alzheimer's Association released its survey alongside its annual report to gauge attitudes about the disease, early detection and diagnosis, potential early access to treatments and research. Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025 Also, within four weeks of completing the Pets and People program, participants were invited to take part in a semi-structured interview to gauge their subjective experiences. New Atlas, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
Wall Street’s fear gauge, the VIX index, surged higher Tuesday after spiking to historic levels the past two sessions, reflecting jitters among traders. John Towfighi, David Goldman and Matt Egan, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025 River gauges detected rivers in major flood stage in 19 locations, according to a flood inundation map from the National Water Center. Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gauge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gauge
Verb
  • Trump, Biden allies divided over GDP report One crisis away from homelessness While discretionary spending is somewhat determined by priorities, income is the key factor when calculating what and where to spend.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 2 May 2025
  • Although Wyze didn't break down how the import fee was calculated, $255,000 suggests the company is paying Trump’s 145% tariffs on Chinese imports.
    Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Trump 100 days: Former president's success created measuring stick for future leaders Poll: Trump loses trust on the economy as 100-day mark nears From Trump to Reagan: Their first 100 days Trump promised to improve the economy on Day 1.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 4 May 2025
  • According to satellite expert Marco Langbroek, the impact speed of the probe, which measures about 3.2 feet across, might be around 150 miles per hour.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 3 May 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
  • Investor Perspectives For those seeking to sell or divest from the neighborhood, rising home values serve as a favorable indicator of potential higher ROI (returns on investment).
    William Jones, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Those have always been touchstones to me, like, can these people actually play and sing?
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • The New Creator Economy Is Rooted in Reality As audiences seek more substance in their scrolls, creators like Newby, Battle, and Taylor aren’t just content creators—they’re cultural touchstones.
    Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Her team figured getting this kind of low-noise performance out of pyroelectric materials was theoretically possible.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2025
  • Hicks figures to be the defensive signal caller unless Schwesinger immediately proves ready for that role.
    Zac Jackson, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • This watch has also inspired a limited edition of our Ingenieur Automatic 40 with a green dial and gold appliqués.
    Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 2 May 2025
  • She’s found a Victorian-style phone with its rotary dial replaced by a number pad, and encased in what looks like jadestone.
    Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 30 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 Magnificent Seven are also less richly valued following the recent selloff: Alphabet, for example, trades at 17 times profits estimated over the next 12 months, compared with an average of 21 times over the past decade, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 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 12 May. 2025.

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