as in bundles
a large amount of a material (such as hay or wool) that is pressed together tightly and often tied or wrapped
a bale of cotton/paper
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Recent Examples of bales
Investigators believe the fire started when a combine harvester in an agricultural field sent up some sort of sparks and ignited hay bales.
—
Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
In terms of exports, the only change over 100,000 bales was for Mali (-150,000 bales to 900,000).
—Sj Guest Editorial, Sourcing Journal, 15 Dec. 2025
Some used the money to buy new bales or machinery, or to help their family through that moment.
—Bella Webb, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
An employee dove between two metal bales that surround the facility to quickly carry a customer who had been burned to safety.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Departing from Greenbank Station in Wilmington, this ride trades traditional passenger cars for flatbed railcars lined with hay bales, giving travelers the feel of an open-air hay wagon.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2025
Dressed as Pokémon characters, third-year attendees Bryan and Sheri Allbaugh were taking pictures by the festive hay bales with their daughter, Lith.
—Amy Stark Shireman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
Gourds, mums, Indian corn, corn stalks and straw bales are also available for purchase.
—Katie Nixon, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025
There are real goats and horses here, as well as a snack bar serving funnel cakes, plus hay bales stacked dangerously high, and all manners of rusty farming equipment painted to resemble barnyard animals.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 20 Oct. 2025
Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
In terms of exports, the only change over 100,000 bales was for Mali (-150,000 bales to 900,000).
—Sj Guest Editorial, Sourcing Journal, 15 Dec. 2025
Some used the money to buy new bales or machinery, or to help their family through that moment.
—Bella Webb, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
An employee dove between two metal bales that surround the facility to quickly carry a customer who had been burned to safety.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Departing from Greenbank Station in Wilmington, this ride trades traditional passenger cars for flatbed railcars lined with hay bales, giving travelers the feel of an open-air hay wagon.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2025
Dressed as Pokémon characters, third-year attendees Bryan and Sheri Allbaugh were taking pictures by the festive hay bales with their daughter, Lith.
—Amy Stark Shireman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
Gourds, mums, Indian corn, corn stalks and straw bales are also available for purchase.
—Katie Nixon, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025
There are real goats and horses here, as well as a snack bar serving funnel cakes, plus hay bales stacked dangerously high, and all manners of rusty farming equipment painted to resemble barnyard animals.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bales
Noun
-
Even before the expedition reached land, Islanders had gone out to the ships, paddling canoes or reed bundles, or just swimming, unafraid and unarmed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Budget airlines are offering more premium options in an attempt to increase revenue, including Spirit, which introduced new fare bundles in 2024 with priority check-in and their take on a first-class experience.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Three-day general admission passes start at $549; general admission and shuttle combo packages start at $669; Rhinestone Saloon admission passes start at $974; Corral reserved seating starts at $1,199; Corral standing pit access starts at $1,899.—
Holly Alvarado,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Amazon has reportedly been training humanoids to deliver packages while Hyundai plans to have such robots working alongside people to build cars by 2028.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Some stayed open to give a break to the protesters from the dangerous cold, providing water, coffee, snacks and hand warmer packets.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Some stayed open to give a break to the protesters from the dangerous cold, providing water, coffee, snacks and hand warmer packets.—
Jack Brook,
Twin Cities,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The company has been generating revenue since shortly after its founding in 2017, hauling loads for customers like Walmart in trucks with human safety drivers at the wheel.—
Alan Ohnsman,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
There are loads of cool details hidden throughout the set, too, with refuelling pipes and a moving bridge that connects the tower to the Orion module.—
Ian Stokes,
Space.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The threat environment alone is enough to deter loadings and prompt diversions at the margin.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
3 Jan. 2026
-
However, arms control agreements limit current loadings to four or five.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Prosecutors allege the defendants sold meal packs intended for vulnerable families overseas and exchanged millions in benefits for cash.—
Jennifer Nassour,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Wolf packs go out of their way to avoid meeting not only people but wolves from other packs, too.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Records obtained by the Los Angeles Times show earlier drafts used stronger language about staffing and command decisions.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Heavier fabrics like velvet, wool blends, flannel, or lined cotton add visual and physical warmth, helping to insulate windows and reduce drafts.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bales. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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