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

To measure the equivalence principle at a quantum scale, the researchers turned to a piece of equipment called the Quantum Galileo Interferometer. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Bergstrom and Soucy used more than 7,000 stickers, but the concept works at any scale. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2026

Verb

If the approach can be scaled up, such systems would be ideal for cooling computer processors, using their own waste heat as a driver, or for cooling sensitive car electronics, drawing on waste heat from the drivetrain. — ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026

Aligning subsidies is also critical, because maintaining fair competition among North American companies and scaling up entire cross-border supply chains will be difficult without harmonizing how each country’s government supports its industry. — Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026