RATE Synonyms: 172 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'rate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rate are appraise , assess , estimate , evaluate , and value . While all these words mean "to judge something with respect to its worth or significance," rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values. // a highly rated restaurant

Q: When might 'appraise' be a better fit than 'rate'?

The words appraise and rate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment. // having their house appraised

Q: When could 'assess' be used to replace 'rate'?

Although the words assess and rate have much in common, assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action. // officials are trying to assess the damage

Q: When is 'estimate' a more appropriate choice than 'rate'?

The meanings of estimate and rate largely overlap; however, estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out. // estimated the crowd at two hundred

Q: When is it sensible to use 'evaluate' instead of 'rate'?

The synonyms evaluate and rate are sometimes interchangeable, but evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary. // evaluate a student's work

Q: How do 'value' and 'appraise' relate to one another, in the sense of 'rate'?

Value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment. // a watercolor valued by the donor at $500

rate 1 of 3

noun

ˈrāt

Definition of rate

as in quality

degree of excellence not being of the first rate, these apples are usually sold as food for livestock

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in ratio

the relationship in quantity, amount, or size between two or more things the exchange rate was 10 pesos to the dollar when we visited Mexico

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

disproportion

rate

2 of 3

verb (1)

as in to deserve

to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment) how does a summer intern rate a new computer when I've been told to make do with this clunker?

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to estimate

to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding nowadays most motorists would probably rate their cell phone as an "essential" piece of electronic equipment

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to rank

to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes a restaurant that consistently rates high in all the standard categories

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to consider

to think of in a particular way I would rate her my best friend; after all, she's always been there when I needed her

Synonyms & Similar Words

rate

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to scold

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings a tyrannical father who usually spent most of dinnertime rating his children on their alleged multitude of failings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb rate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rate are appraise, assess, estimate, evaluate, and value. While all these words mean "to judge something with respect to its worth or significance," rate adds to estimate the notion of placing a thing according to a scale of values.

a highly rated restaurant

When might appraise be a better fit than rate?

The words appraise and rate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, appraise commonly implies the fixing by an expert of the monetary worth of a thing, but it may be used of any critical judgment.

having their house appraised

When could assess be used to replace rate?

Although the words assess and rate have much in common, assess implies a critical appraisal for the purpose of understanding or interpreting, or as a guide in taking action.

officials are trying to assess the damage

When is estimate a more appropriate choice than rate?

The meanings of estimate and rate largely overlap; however, estimate implies a judgment, considered or casual, that precedes or takes the place of actual measuring or counting or testing out.

estimated the crowd at two hundred

When is it sensible to use evaluate instead of rate?

The synonyms evaluate and rate are sometimes interchangeable, but evaluate suggests an attempt to determine relative or intrinsic worth in terms other than monetary.

evaluate a student's work

How do value and appraise relate to one another, in the sense of rate?

Value equals appraise but without implying expertness of judgment.

a watercolor valued by the donor at $500

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 rate

Noun

Since taking over as Fed chair in May, Warsh has remained quiet on what’s next for short-term rates. — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 But other horses like that, or those that are completely the opposite, don’t have Gold Phoenix’s success rate or longevity. — Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

His focus is on high-quality issuers with senior debt that's A-rated or higher. — Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 The contest is rated a tossup by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rate

Noun

The centre-back hopes signing for Birmingham will bring out latent leadership qualities.

— Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
None of the lead articles compare firms that adopted these AI processes with otherwise similar firms that did not, on realized strategy quality or long-run performance.

— Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of quality

Noun

Theoretically, Newcastle had decent capacity to bring in a forward from both a Premier League squad cost ratio (SCR) and a UEFA financial rules perspective.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Some lenders use standard factors by industry; others will accept a letter from a CPA attesting to the business’s actual expense ratio, which can meaningfully improve the income calculation for a lean operation.

— Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of ratio

Verb

Prosecutors alleged that Donna was one of the masterminds behind Markel’s murder, helping to fund the contract killing, which was estimated to cost even more than $100,000, according to court documents obtained by CNN.

— Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
National debt service is estimated to account for more than 25% of government expenses for fiscal year 2026.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of estimate

Verb

Models ranked some outcomes more consistently than individual evaluators.

— Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
An internal company memo from around the time of the recovery mission — also obtained by CNBC — indicates Coupang coordinated the computer recovery at the behest of a high-ranking national security officer from the South Korean president’s office.

— Justin Papp, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of rank

Verb

Historically, the United States has sent mixed messages to Europeans, encouraging them to step up but then scolding them for seeking autonomy.

— JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
In fact, during testing, the handheld triggered nostalgic memories of playing Final Fantasy Legend and Mario Land 2 on long car rides to my grandparents' house, but without the eye strain and being scolded for playing in the dark as the sun set.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of scold

Verb

Some soldiers distinguished themselves by helping to render emergency trauma response and first aid to civilians, earning individual service commendations, according to the Arkansas National Guard.

— Neal Earley, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2026
On Monday, those five writers — also DSA-LA members — panned the idea of an endorsement, saying Raman hasn’t earned it.

— Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of earn

Browse Nearby Words

ratchet (up)

rate

rated

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Style

“Rate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rate. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of rate

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verb (1)

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Synonyms of rate

noun

verb (1)

verb (2)

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Phrases Containing rate

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