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 To be fair, this payment yardstick is off 2% in a year. Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register, 17 Jan. 2025 The photo highlights the relative youth of human civilization by showing a 2,500-year-old temple that is ancient by the yardstick of human lives, alongside the 4.5 billion-year-old disk of Earth's moon, which has watched over humanity since our ancestors emerged from the oceans. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 May 2025 The yardstick of success for operators of those parks isn't purely making a profit but promoting the country they are located in and driving tourism. Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025 Inflation yardsticks such as the PCE index and the Consumer Price Index measure the change in prices over time of a typical basket of goods and services. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for yardstick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yardstick
Noun
  • So far, since returning from Washington to her native state, Harris, 60, has displayed none of the above criteria that California needs in its next governor.
    George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2025
  • Renters must meet a variety of sustainability criteria including solar panels, water flow reduction, renewable energy and recycling programs.
    Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • As the company gears up to celebrate five years of redefining the industry standard, its mission for the future remains clear: bringing ideas to life and creating new revenue sources for small businesses.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 7 June 2025
  • In response, Taiwan's hospitals are taking decisive action by integrating artificial intelligence and robotics to support their staff and maintain high standards of patient care.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Europe’s benchmark STOXX 600 index is up 9.4%.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
  • And it's been a benchmark for diversity and Asian stories on Broadway.
    H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • As a measure of how dormant the rivalry is, the two teams have not faced each other since 2008 — a year before Thomas Muller, who will leave Bayern this summer as their record appearance-maker with 751 (so far), had even made his competitive debut.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 June 2025
  • In 2015, lawmakers in the state Assembly approved a measure that would have restricted the use of drones over private property without the owner’s permission.
    Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Yardstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yardstick. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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