as in criterion
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared this essay will be the yardstick by which I grade the others

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun yardstick contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of yardstick are criterion, gauge, standard, and touchstone. While all these words mean "a means of determining what a thing should be," yardstick is an informal substitute for criterion that suggests quantity more often than quality.

housing construction as a yardstick of economic growth

When is criterion a more appropriate choice than yardstick?

The meanings of criterion and yardstick largely overlap; however, 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 might gauge be a better fit than yardstick?

The words gauge and yardstick are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 would standard be a good substitute for yardstick?

While the synonyms standard and yardstick are close in meaning, standard applies to any definite rule, principle, or measure established by authority.

standards of behavior

When could touchstone be used to replace yardstick?

While in some cases nearly identical to yardstick, touchstone suggests a simple test of the authenticity or value of something intangible.

fine service is one touchstone of a first-class restaurant

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 yardstick The machine learning field is moving fast, and the yardsticks used measure progress in it are having to race to keep up. Dina Genkina, IEEE Spectrum, 10 Sep. 2025 By that yardstick, this clearance moved briskly. Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 Some more receptive to this, some more receptive to that, but perhaps in incommensurate ways, meaning there can be no one yardstick to measure their comparative richness. Thomas Moynihan, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025 Saturday’s opener was always likely to be an unreliable yardstick for Wolves’ progress, given the riches at Pep Guardiola’s disposal, and the next two league games against Bournemouth and Everton will provide a clearer gauge. Steve Madeley, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for yardstick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yardstick
Noun
  • The fatality review team, which includes The Archway, Fort Worth and Arlington police, the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, local hospitals, and the medical examiner’s office, among others, reviewed 20 cases from 2024 and determined that 11 met the criteria, Jacob said.
    Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2025
  • In practice, that means if a user is searching for a stay in a particular area with certain criteria that isn’t available, Airbnb will now suggest other rentals with similar prices and amenities in nearby areas.
    Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The opposition accuses Fico of eroding democratic standards, media freedom, and covering up corruption.
    Reuters, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
  • This path instills our culture, standards and patient-first philosophy from the start.
    Prof. Dr. med. Mazda Farshad, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The benchmark index is on track to finish 2025 almost 15% higher.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Rather than dictating rates to providers, Unity negotiates reimbursements tied to Medicare benchmarks.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center estimates that the total amount of federal relief measures taken after the COVID-19 pandemic—much of which was Former President Biden’s policies— amounted to $5 trillion, resulting in deficits not seen outside of wartime.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
  • The measure would provide $45 billion to expand ICE’s detention capacity to nearly 100,000 beds, $14 billion for transportation and removal operations and $8 billion to hire 10,000 new deportation officers.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Yardstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yardstick. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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