scale 1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈskāl How to pronounce scale (audio)
Definition of scalenext
as in balance
a device for measuring weight I hate getting on the bathroom scale

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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

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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

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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?

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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

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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 scale
Noun
Players will have their service quality rated on a 0-100 scale for each match. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 31 Aug. 2026 Because the amount of charge scales with how far a drop slides and the coating’s ability to resist scales with its thickness, the effect has a limit. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
If your brain instantly rejects it, change a word or scale it down. — Angela Haupt, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 Target scaled back its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives a year later. — Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scale
  1. balance
  2. plate
  3. hierarchy
  4. spectrum
  5. measure
  6. ladder
  7. range
  8. gauge
Noun
  • Now, one element of great balance is there’s not a ton of headliners, stars.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026
  • This balance prevents the charge pile-up that normally creates a dangerous electric-field spike when the transistor turns off.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of balance
Noun
  • Soto’s first plate appearance Saturday was met with a standing ovation from those who chose to show up at Citi Field.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Direct-to-chip cooling solves this problem by circulating liquid through cold plates mounted on processors and other heat-producing components.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of plate
Noun
  • Depending on the club, the hierarchies are still clear, and there might be little overlap between those positions.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Naked mole rat colonies have a hierarchy that loosely aligns with body size, where only the largest females have a shot at becoming queen—and only the queen reproduces.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of hierarchy
Noun
  • At the brand’s peak, the Gap’s roster of stars from across the cultural spectrum included rapper LL Cool J, Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker, and author Joan Didion.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • On the other end of the spectrum is the bustling Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a working harbor with a commercial center comprised of shops, bars, and the Cape Ferris Wheel.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of spectrum
Verb
  • The minimum safe thickness is a threshold that measures a tank’s ability to contain the pressure of the liquid and support the tank’s weight, the report said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • These supernovas were used as a kind of cosmological measuring stick to uncover a mysterious force called dark energy that was causing the universe to expand — a discovery that earned the Nobel Prize in 2011.
    — Joe Palca, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of measure
Noun
  • Before ascending the ladder at Business Affairs, Capifali did stints at the Department of Environment and the Chicago Commission on Animal Care and Control.
    — Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Because the existing hole was too small, crews used a saw to cut a larger opening and lowered a ladder inside to give the animals an easy way out.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of ladder
Noun
  • Conversely, another group argues that given the upside risks to inflation, the year-end rate should likely be higher than the current target range.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Transitioning into the pre-rut, deer really settle into their fall range.
    — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of range
Verb
  • At The Old Mill Restaurant in East Tennessee, Tim Fulton was in his office, trying to gauge how many devotees would pour into Dollywood in the coming days.
    — Rachel Siegel, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • MyStarChain will present its blockchain voting platform MyStarPick, and HiStranger will introduce Insight Flow, a tool that reads biosignals to gauge audience emotional response.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of gauge

Browse Nearby Words

scalds
scale
scaled
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Cite this Entry

“Scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scale. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on scale

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scale

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