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

Over the past decade, the Indian state has quietly assembled a parallel digital security architecture that allows authorities to intercept, analyze and store communications data at an enormous scale. —Rana Ayyub, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2026

Some push this concept even further, arguing work-balance doesn’t exist when building something at scale—an idea echoed by Zoom CEO Eric Yuan. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026

Verb

While a whole host of startups have cropped up (and failed, considering the challenges of scaling up new materials) over the years, Gucci decided to bring its R&D in-house to ensure that any innovations match the Italian fashion house’s necessary specifications. —Emily Chan, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026

In addition to tariffs, jobs continued to be scaled back in industries that over-hired during the pandemic. —Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026