What criterion did you use when you elected this essay as the winner?
Source: tatoeba (2003)
Criterion
/kɹɪˈtɪəɹi.ən/
Synonyms for "criterion" (337 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (68)
Noun(39 words)
measurestandardachievement indicatorsachievement standardadmission criterionalgebraic structure propertiesalignment standardansisarbitersassessment descriptorassessment metricsbehavioral indicatorsbenchmarkbenchmark performance measurebenchmarking conceptbenchmarksbiology term definitioncanonscivil law doctrineclassroom descriptive term
Show 19 more words
clear online community guidelinesclearly defined purposecommunication standardcomparatorscompetencescompetencycompliance standardconditionconservation of angular momentumconsideringcraft exemplarcriteriacriteria termcriterionscultural descriptorculturally inclusivecurriculum elementdata measuredeciding
Adjective(11 words)
aesthetic standardalgorithmic metricbehavioral attributecivil procedure conceptclear writingclxivconsistent performancecrucial factorcultural practice indicatorscustom attributedefining trait
Verb(1 words)
choose energy efficient appliances
Strong matches (101)
degreedeterminationdocimasyepitomeessayexamplefeeling outfirst draftformformalityformulaformularyfuglemanfuglergaugegenotypegraduated scaleguideguidelineideal
Show 6 more words
Noun(50 words)
demarcationdesideratumdesign attributedesign guidelinedesign principledesign propertydesign traitdisplay standarddisqualifyingdistincterdistinctive featureecmascript standardecosystem attributeeligibility criterioneligibility indicatoremotional-intelligence basedenergy accounting ruleenvironmental standardsevaluation criterionface shield standard
Show 30 more words
field standardfinancial qualifiergaugesgoalpostgrade level standardgrading descriptorgrading itemgroup propertygroup traitguide basedguide verbguideposthallmarkhistorically significantindicatorsinspection standardinstitutionalization standardlab compliancelanguage aptitudelanguage standardlanguage-usefullylearner requirementslearning pointlearning style descriptorlegal-code standardslegal-rule standardlitmuslodestarmajor requirementsmanagement criterion
Adjective(23 words)
diagnostic criterionecological measureeducational attributeeducational concepteducational metriceducational referenceethical standardformal standardsfunctional featuregoverning factorgrading termgrammatical requirementguiding ruleguiding standardhigh standardhigh standardshighest qualityinstructional clarityinstructional indicatorinstructional target
Show 3 more words
italian normalegal measurelegal standard
Verb(2 words)
dictate guidelinesestablish benchmark
Related words (168)
Noun(94 words)
management factormasterymath conceptmatters of importancemeasure economic valuemeasure linguistic abilitymeasure oral understandingmeasure sample worksheetmeasure speech abilitymeasure spelling accuracymeasurement criterionmeasuring stickmenkentmeritingmoral qualitymore commercially viablemore conceptualmore orderedmost standardnancere
Show 74 more words
narrative coherencenegligibilitynormally expectedofficial guidelineofficial standardoperational characteristicoutcome measurepassing standardpattern basepeer collaboration targetspeireskiaperformance measuresperformance metricperformance standardperformance targetpolicy principlepolicy standardpreconditionspredicate filterpresent basispresentabilityprinciple of gravityproject objectivepsychometric propertyqualifier wordqualifiersqualifying rulequalifying term conceptquality attributesquality indicatorquality measurequality standardreasonablenessreference pointrequirementrubric descriptorrubric itemrubric standardrubric termscientifically basedsection itemselection criterionselectorssetting a standardshibbolethshibbolethsshoot forshuhasocial indicatorspanish mediblespanish medirspecspecific criterionspecificationspecifyingspeech related traitstandard unitsstandard-checkstandardsstandards termsystem performanceteacher confirmationteaching guidelineteststhroughput targettouchstonetouchstonesusage focusverification standardvisual evaluationwriting objectiveyaltopyayardstickyardsticks
markmaximmeasuremirrormodelnormnormaordealorder of natureoriginalparadigmparagonparameterpatternprecedentprescribed formprescriptionprincipleprobationprocrustean law
Show 28 more words
proofprototypequantityreadingreadoutregulationrepresentativerough draftrough sketchrulescaleset formsounding outstandardstanding ordertesttest casetouchstonetrialtrytypetype speciestype specimenuniversal lawurtextvalueverificationyardstick
Adjective(21 words)
mathematical normsmeasurable attributeminimum standardmorphological criterionnational authoritynational standardnorwegian standardofficial guidelinesoperational targetportuguese descritorpotable water guidelineprecise measurequalifying score benchmarkrecordable featuresrigorous logicscientific principlesocial welfare targetsspecific rulestrict standardsstructural integrity
Show 1 more word
systematic standard
Adverb(1 words)
more native-like features
Determiner(2 words)
most evident factorthe principles
Verb(2 words)
serve as role modelstandarding
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: measure, standard, achievement indicators, achievement standard, acid test.
- Sentence evidence is available for criterion, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "criterion".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "criterion"
Keep "criterion" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "criterion" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "criterion", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "criterion" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
7 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
6 entriesadmission criterioncriteria for admissioncriterion for successestablish a criterionmeeting the criterionset of criteria
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
1 entriesSample sentences
15 total sentences available.
Money is not a criterion of success.
Source: tatoeba (18503)
My criterion is the ability to work joyfully.
Source: tatoeba (251583)
Americans are said to regard the amount of money a man makes as a criterion of his ability.
Source: tatoeba (320225)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "criterion"?
Closest matches include measure, standard, achievement indicators, achievement standard, acid test.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "criterion"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.