scales 1 of 4

Definition of scalesnext
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

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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

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noun (3)

plural of scale

scales

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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
Not to mention that a more configurable setup—less custom code—will speed updates while lowering total ownership costs as the brand scales, according to Aptos. Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 10 Feb. 2026 Hacin works on designs of all scales and types, including commercial, residential, hospitality, and adaptive reuse projects, and the firm’s residential interiors range from an urban loft in Boston to a modern mountain home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026 Relative to local pay scales, the cities are more expensive for homebuyers than New York, Paris and Singapore, Remitly’s analysis says. Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026 For all the annual hope that the competitive scales will finally even out, have any of the prevailing winds really shifted in the past four years? Megan Feringa, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026 Kelly’s attorney, Benjamin Mizer, urged the judge to shut down the Navy’s review because Hegseth’s public statements had put his thumb on the scales. Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026 By implementing the technology in heavy-duty fleets that already use central stations, the infrastructure requirements are more manageable as the technology scales. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 8 Feb. 2026 One is that the expansion only dominates on very large scales, and the other is that the expansion competes against gravity. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Feb. 2026 But removing dark matter from our cosmological models could hinge on the possibility that gravity behaves differently on very large scales, one scientist says. Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
Young boys cleaned test tubes, brawny machinists built gauges and mills, and scales delicate enough to weigh an inch of a spider's web. Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026 The simulations relied on direct numerical simulation, a method that resolves all relevant turbulence scales without using modeling assumptions. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026 This recipe borrows that same concept and scales it up to a Bundt pan size. Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 The bill scales with every token generated. Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026 Skip cluttered wall art, freestanding toilet paper holders, and scales to keep your bathroom sleek. Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 19 Jan. 2026 But Meta is set to announce layoffs this week in the company’s Reality Labs business, according to reporting by The New York Times, as the company scales back its metaverse unit. Jake Angelo, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026 In this role, Klingenberg will lead CFY’s engineering and data science teams as the company scales. Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 9 Jan. 2026 Cue the Mayhem Ball, the pop star’s eighth concert tour, where Lady Gaga rises from a sand pit populated with skeletons, scales up a dress the size of a multi-story apartment building, and unravels the longest gown train a bride could ever dream of. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scales
Verb
  • Epipedobates anthonyi, known as Anthony’s poison arrow frog, typically measures 22 mm long.
    Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Since early 2020, cumulative CPI inflation, which measures an array of goods and services including food and gas, has risen roughly 26%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • At Starbucks stores, the company revised the dress code for baristas, suggesting employees wear solid black tops and remove ear gauges larger than a quarter.
    Jake Angelo, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The research firm's Secondhand Pricing Tracker gauges the resale premium — or the auction sale price of a bag compared to its original retail price — and is weighted by volume.
    Robert Frank, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scales. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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