BENCHMARK Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

benchmark

noun

ˈbench-ˌmärk

Definition of benchmark

as in standard

something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared this prize-winning biography will be the benchmark against which all others will be judged in future years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 benchmark The Federal Open Market Committee last week voted 9-3 to hold its benchmark rate in place. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 Another startup, The Path, claims to have the highest scores on the VERA-MH benchmark and raised $14 million in venture capital earlier this year. — Cyrus Farivar, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026 Matt, what were the drivers what led you to that important benchmark in this past quarter? — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026 Advertisement Claude began beating the benchmarks The change Clark had walked into was not entirely unexpected. — Harry Booth, Time, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for benchmark

Recent Examples of Synonyms for benchmark

Noun

It was demolished in May and is being reconstructed to meet modern safety and use standards.

— Carson Bonner, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
That changed in 2013 when lowering the threshold to a simple majority intensified partisanship and eroded the standard of qualifications for nominees.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of standard

Noun

There are no minimum credit score requirements for VA, USDA and conventional mortgage loans that meet certain criteria.

— Deane Biermeier, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
The league could create some sort of criteria out of thin air — most of these trans arguments are created out of thin air, so this would be easy — and wiggle their way out of the mess that way.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of criterion

Browse Nearby Words

benches

benchmark

benchmarks

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Benchmark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benchmark. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of benchmark

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on benchmark

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

baptism of fire

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes