balances 1 of 2

plural of balance
1
as in scales
a device for measuring weight use a balance to make sure you get the amounts precisely correct

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in offsets
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective the balance to the mountain of complaints are the many letters of praise that we also receive

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

balances

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of balance

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 balances
Noun
Under the latest proposal that trustees will vote on, schools with smaller cash balances would contribute less toward an emergency fund used to help struggling institutions. — CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 The collection balances shaping, comfort and style in equal measure, including such staples as stretchy-fit basics, a relaxed denim jacket and high-rise wide-leg jean, among others. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 Credit card revenue growth was 3% on higher NII on higher loan balances and card fees. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026 Systems acting on financial information need real-time balances, reliable transaction status, configurable permissions, transaction limits, access to different payment methods and clear exception processes. — Ozan Ozerk, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Verb
Sidney has crafted a brilliant pressure-cooker world that balances prison politics with raw survival prowess. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 Originally developed for highly active military users, Alpha uses an open structure that balances insulation with airflow as activity levels change. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026 Final Thoughts The Hisense 8,000 BTU UltraSlim Smart Inverter is a standout window air conditioner that effortlessly balances sleek design, near-silent operation, and top-tier performance. — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026 Either way, Rahimi balances the character’s clear vulnerability with just enough ambiguity about his plans for the school, accentuated through Majidi’s restrained and naturalistic approach. — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026 How the team balances this dynamic, along with loan and deposit growth, will determine net interest margins and the latest outlook on net interest income (NII). — Zev Fima,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026 Quigley, bearded and burly but soft-edged with a deliberative way of speaking that can serve a range of emotions, is brilliant, and Patel balances him admirably. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 Young balances his emotion on a razor’s edge every time, without exception. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026 The Premium Back Relief Cushion balances firm posture support with long-lasting comfort, while the XL Seat Cushion offers wider support. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balances
Noun
  • How long can a country punch above its weight before someone needs to check the scales?
    — Jan Larsson, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Trump is shown clutching a golf club in one hand and the scales of justice in the other.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Chinese Money Plant Chinese money plants (Pilea peperomioides) often produce offsets or baby plants, which are easy to divide and repot into their own containers.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2026
  • And this does the latter quite nicely, the classic claret and blue along with a gold trim offsets the whole thing rather well.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Streamlined and minimal, the only bells and whistles in Branch’s office furniture are details that make a real difference throughout the workday (like adjustable arm rests and flexible lumbar support).
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026
  • An appliance that melted rests on a counter in D&P Green, a pine resin distillery destroyed by the wildfire in Le Porge.
    — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Yet in a culture that equates progress with perpetual acceleration, to pause is to risk obsolescence.
    — Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Bob O’Brien, Counterpoint’s research director, also equates Mini LED with FALD.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Lucy’s constant sense of invention sometimes falters under the album’s new, megawatt spotlight, lacking the enticing mystery that gives their best music its power.
    — H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Power play falters For the first time this season, the Oilers power play was a no-show, going 0-for-3 in the first period.
    — Janson Duench, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • So instead of making teams whole each time, the NFL now just pays teams’ travel expenses for their international game under the rationale that every team will lose a home game—and, in turn, home game ticket revenue—during that time.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The result is a politics in which almost everyone agrees that reform is urgently needed, provided someone else pays, and their own group’s advantages remain untouched.
    — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Escape vertically inside your home by moving upstairs or getting on top of counters to avoid being swept away.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The in-house self-winding chronograph movement (Caliber GP03300) drives two counters and small seconds as well as a date display.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Perhaps even a rag-tag group of remainders can put a scare into San Antonio.
    — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 1 May 2026
  • The best-case scenario would be for the Lakers’ remainders to extend the best-of-seven series with the Rockets long enough for Doncic and Reaves to rejoin LeBron James in that Big Three, either at the end of this series or the start of the next one.
    — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Balances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balances. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster