Synonyms of scale

scale 1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈskāl 

as in balance

a device for measuring weight

I hate getting on the bathroom scale

Synonyms & Similar Words

• balance
• gravimeter

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

• plate
• sheet
• lamina
• sliver
• leaf
• slice
• flake
• chip
• lamella
• splint
• splinter

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

• hierarchy
• ladder
• ranking
• series
• level
• graduation
• ordering
• sequence
• distribution
• degree
• array
• situation
• disposal
• status
• arrangement
• setup
• food chain
• position
• footing
• standing
• place
• disposition
• pecking order
• station
• reaches
• spot
• echelon
• rung

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

• spectrum
• range
• gamut
• stretch
• diapason
• spread
• scope
• measure
• width
• pitch
• extent
• amplitude
• sweep
• realm
• reach
• compass
• dimension(s)
• ambit

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

• measure
• gauge
• weigh
• span
• assess
• estimate
• compute
• ascertain
• calibrate
• evaluate
• quantify
• calculate
• judge
• figure
• lay off
• determine
• value
• sum
• mark (off)
• figure out
• appraise
• guess
• quantitate
• caliper
• add up
• total
• find out
• guesstimate
• work out
• cipher
• valuate
• suppose
• tally
• discover
• conjecture
• reckon
• dope (out)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of scale

Noun

Rob and his team are both embracing innovation and investing in it, affording us an unprecedented level of creative autonomy and resources needed to build something that has never been done before at this scale. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026

Planners have developed any number of plans intended to repair and invigorate the downtown core, but the city fails to follow through on them at the requisite scale, due to lack of will or lack of funds or both. —Mark Lamster architecture Critic, Dallas Morning News, 14 Jan. 2026

Verb

Shortages of critical components like high-bandwidth memory and a pullback in open research have constrained AI’s ability to scale quickly — and that might provide natural guardrails for the evolving technology. —Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 21 Jan. 2026

Like Scott, the Oakley founder understood how a subcultural aesthetic could scale without losing its edge. —Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2026