as in cargo
heavy material (such as rocks or water) that is put on a ship to make it steady or on a balloon to control its height in the air
—often used figuratively
A large amount of ballast kept the boat from capsizing. She provided the ballast the family needed in times of stress.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballast
These spellbinding historical passages serve as a ballast to Lina and Wui’s uncertain existence.
—
Lauren Leblanc, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The thicker walls function as ballast that helps semiaquatic animals dive.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025
State officials say the mussels can hide in ballast tanks, live wells, and engine systems, surviving long trips and posing risks to even remote mountain lakes.
—Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2025
The maritime archaeologist identified shell impact holes in the upper starboard of the hull’s ballast tank and significant battle damage to the base of the submarine’s conning tower.
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballast
Lauren Leblanc, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The thicker walls function as ballast that helps semiaquatic animals dive.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025
State officials say the mussels can hide in ballast tanks, live wells, and engine systems, surviving long trips and posing risks to even remote mountain lakes.
—Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2025
The maritime archaeologist identified shell impact holes in the upper starboard of the hull’s ballast tank and significant battle damage to the base of the submarine’s conning tower.
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballast
Noun
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The majority of cargo volumes from those ports are destined for Dubai, which has become a hub for the movement of freight with feeder services in the Persian Gulf, South Asia and East Africa.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
17 June 2025
-
Videos published after 6 a.m. showed the aftermath of a strike on a military base and a cargo terminal in the western Kermanshah region, which borders Iraq, over 250 miles from Tehran and 167 miles from Baghdad.—
Katie Polglase,
CNN Money,
13 June 2025
Noun
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That disparity in negotiating power leads to the wider spread in shipping rates at different ends of the freight market.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
23 June 2025
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The passenger airlines with a sideline in freight and the freight-only lines did not relish the prospect of additional competition.—
Chase Peterson-Withorn,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
Made in Turino and inspired by bitters of the region, this aperitivo balances bitter orange with loads of botanicals for something flavorful enough to replace Aperol in any cocktail for something less sugary.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
21 June 2025
-
Everyone can live, everyone can die, and there’s a whole load of different outcomes to the story.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
Four cameras followed Tucker during his walk in from a loading dock located, fittingly, in the right-field corner.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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Silver loading refers to when insurers increase premiums for silver-level health insurance plans in order to offset the cost of subsidies.—
Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech,
The Hill,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
The goal is a 10% increase in booster performance over the boosters used on Artemis I. That would equate to SLS being able to carry another 11,000 pounds of payload to lunar orbit.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 June 2025
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Planes with a payload under 7,500 pounds did not need CAB permission to operate.—
Chase Peterson-Withorn,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Noun
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One example can be as simple as shipments that are missing bills of lading or origin documents.—
Forbes,
Forbes,
1 June 2021
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According to bills of lading and other records provided to the San Antonio Express-News by officials at 23 food banks, CRE8AD8 delivered about 147,000 boxes total to food banks.—
Tom Orsborn,
ExpressNews.com,
1 July 2020
Noun
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President Donald Trump has indicated states should carry more of the burden, relieving the backlogged Federal Emergency Management Agency.—
Melanie Stetson Freeman,
Christian Science Monitor,
20 June 2025
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This additional step would be a burden not only on families but on the IRS, which has been the subject of severe staff cuts by the Trump administration.—
Cory Turner,
NPR,
20 June 2025
Noun
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That was the point where Sunderland began to fall off the Premier League cliff-edge, and Ndong was a deadweight to hasten their demise.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
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Thus, Ockham's razor cuts loose the deadweight of the theory, leaving it with only the necessary pieces of explanation.—
Julius Černiauskas,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ballast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballast. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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