scales 1 of 4

plural of scale
as in balances
a device for measuring weight I hate getting on the bathroom scale

Synonyms & Similar Words

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scales

2 of 4

noun (2)

plural of scale
as in plates
a small thin piece of material that resembles an animal scale scales of mica were embedded in the granite

Synonyms & Similar Words

scales

3 of 4

noun (3)

plural of scale

scales

4 of 4

verb

present tense third-person singular of scale

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 scales
Noun
Now, thanks entirely to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the scales are tipping back towards the geriatrics. Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 24 June 2026 Also as the name indicates, the Diamondback has a dark diamond pattern on the scales. Eva Flowe june 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026 The seizures added up to about 420 grams of cocaine, $2,291 in cash, a rifle, four pistols, various magazines and ammunition, and digital scales and packaging materials believed to be used in narcotics distribution, the sheriff's office said. Paula Wethington, CBS News, 23 June 2026 Convenience scales fast, yet technical depth still compounds value. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 The parade marchers dressed in a sea of fishnets, glitter, metallic scales, and neon wigs, but the crowd similarly brought their nautical A-game. Amir Hamja, Vogue, 22 June 2026 One who can tip the scales and slide white to gray and gray to felony. Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026 This wasn’t the most compelling matchup at the beginning of the tournament, but chaos has tipped the scales in our favor. Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 20 June 2026 Metamaterials are engineered materials whose useful behavior comes not just from what they are made of, but from how they are shaped at small scales. New Atlas, 19 June 2026
Verb
In its fifth and final season, The Bear scales back down to its fundamentals and delivers a satisfying farewell to one of the most electrifying television series of the past decade. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 June 2026 Without that, automation simply scales mediocrity. Jay Sen, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 This stacking architecture also scales up the capacity of individual cells. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 June 2026 However, questions remain as to how that scales to the NBA. David Aldridge, New York Times, 24 June 2026 Buying less food wastes less of it, and the roughly 700 million tons of CO₂ equivalent lost annually to food-system waste scales down with the volume. Tenzin Seldon, Fortune, 21 June 2026 Keating said Uni is in the process of closing an additional funding round as the brand scales its retail footprint and broader business. Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 18 June 2026 And that has been very hard to protect as the show goes on and scales larger and larger and everybody’s getting famous and other opportunities — keeping that sense of ensemble and intentionality behind it. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scales
Noun
  • Debt settlement companies report reducing their clients’ enrolled balances by 40% to 50% on average.
    Brian Sloan, CNBC, 26 June 2026
  • Repaying what's owed becomes an even greater challenge once credit card balances hit the $40,000 range, however.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • One tenant already on-site is Canopy Cocktails & Garden, a cocktail bar and lounge that serves craft cocktails, wine and small plates and hosts live music and community events within the complex.
    Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 22 June 2026
  • Throughout treatment and surgical intervention, these professionals put a special focus on protecting kids’ growth plates, ensuring their future bone development is unimpeded and supported.
    JP Shaffer, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • The result is a club conceived without the hierarchies that characterize some of its London counterparts—members shaped not by title or industry, but by curiosity and shared sensibility.
    Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 21 June 2026
  • To that point, human history was a tale of conquest and caste and rigid hierarchies, a world where the strong dominated the weak, where power and wealth and status flowed through lineage and the many were ruled by the few.
    Hilary Gowins, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026
Noun
  • The launch marks a new chapter for a series that dates back to 1985, when Sanlorenzo introduced the fiberglass SL57, the first model in what would become one of yachting’s most recognizable ranges.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 22 June 2026
  • Being much smaller, this new portable version can’t quite reach those ranges, however.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • One option is an enormous single dish like the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia, which measures 328 feet across.
    Denise Chow, NBC news, 21 June 2026
  • The lot measures 6,501 square feet and includes a pool.
    Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • Traditional ladders to success are losing their luster.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 17 June 2026
  • The Medline warehouse has faced serious citations regarding unsafe vehicle travel behavior; hazardous aisles, ladders, or stairways; and a lack of sufficient foot protection for employees exposed to foot injuries.
    Lyanne Wang, CBS News, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • Besides adhering to and leveraging various spectrums of light, temperature, air quality, and noise levels, these conditions are underrated factors that either support or undermine human biology hour by hour.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
  • Vulture’s critics are tracking the year’s TV highlights across the streaming and broadcast spectrums, from breakout hits to underseen gems and everything in between.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • Baseball Savant’s newest metric, which gauges how well hitters time up certain pitches and square them up, loves him.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 14 June 2026
  • The annual Social Security trustees report, which gauges these timelines, is expected to be released this month.
    Lorie Konish, CNBC, 3 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Scales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scales. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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