: an open-ended logarithmic scale for expressing the magnitude of a seismic disturbance (such as an earthquake) in terms of the energy dissipated in it with 1.5 indicating the smallest earthquake that can be felt, 4.5 an earthquake causing slight damage, and 8.5 a very devastating earthquake
Examples of Richter scale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Young stars, or players with star-level potential, like Šimon Nemec, Bowen Byram, William Eklund and Jordan Kyrou, were the centrepieces of Richter scale-registering swaps.
—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
But when the topic turned to how his election could rattle the Hall’s Richter scale once his plaque hangs in that gallery in July, Suzuki couldn’t wrap his mind around that thought.
—
Jayson Stark,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
In the world of gravitational wave research – in which impossibly huge detection devices (more on that in a bit) are used to track celestial events in the way Richter scales track earthquakes – Cal State Fullerton is a legitimately big player.
—
Andre Mouchard,
Orange County Register,
19 May 2024
Barring the unexpected, the outcome is not likely to register high on the political Richter scale.
—
Los Angeles Times,
18 Oct. 2022
After 99 yards and a Gators touchdown, The Swamp was shaking at Richter scale levels from the pure noise of it all.
—
Cecil Hurt,
USA TODAY,
19 Sep. 2021
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.
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
But when the topic turned to how his election could rattle the Hall’s Richter scale once his plaque hangs in that gallery in July, Suzuki couldn’t wrap his mind around that thought.
—
Jayson Stark,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
In the world of gravitational wave research – in which impossibly huge detection devices (more on that in a bit) are used to track celestial events in the way Richter scales track earthquakes – Cal State Fullerton is a legitimately big player.
—
Andre Mouchard,
Orange County Register,
19 May 2024
Barring the unexpected, the outcome is not likely to register high on the political Richter scale.
—
Los Angeles Times,
18 Oct. 2022
After 99 yards and a Gators touchdown, The Swamp was shaking at Richter scale levels from the pure noise of it all.
—
Cecil Hurt,
USA TODAY,
19 Sep. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Richter scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Richter%20scale. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Richter scale
noun
Rich·ter scale
ˈrik-tər- 
: a scale for expressing the strength of an earthquake
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
