as in cargoes
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.
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Recent Examples of ballasts
Federal officials recently launched a prize competition to reward ideas for controlling the flow of aquatic species into and out of the ballasts of boats that travel among the various lakes and waterways across the United States.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 7 May 2026
Other items from the ship, including the ballasts that served as counterweights for the human cargo, are remaining on display and will be returned to South Africa in two years.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
Other items from the ship, including the ballasts that served as counterweights for the human cargo, are remaining on display and will be returned to South Africa in two years.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
Have bricks or river rocks concealed out of sight and ready to use as ballasts to hold the cloth in place against winds.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Jan. 2026
Cheaper options or knock-offs tend to come with flimsy sockets, buzzing ballasts, or unreliable switches, which can make rooms look cheap or dated far sooner than expected and even create fire hazards.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 7 May 2026
Other items from the ship, including the ballasts that served as counterweights for the human cargo, are remaining on display and will be returned to South Africa in two years.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
Other items from the ship, including the ballasts that served as counterweights for the human cargo, are remaining on display and will be returned to South Africa in two years.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
Have bricks or river rocks concealed out of sight and ready to use as ballasts to hold the cloth in place against winds.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Jan. 2026
Cheaper options or knock-offs tend to come with flimsy sockets, buzzing ballasts, or unreliable switches, which can make rooms look cheap or dated far sooner than expected and even create fire hazards.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballasts
Noun
-
Still, the latest shipping data shows that most vessels that have transited the Strait of Hormuz in recent days have taken the route designated by Iranian authorities, and about half of them loaded their cargoes at Iranian ports in defiance of the US blockade.—
Henrik Pettersson,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
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Black cargos are a streetwear-loving girl’s best friend.—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Glamour,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Since 2023, McLane routes using this technology logged 280,000 autonomous miles in Texas, covering 1,400 loads delivered to restaurants.—
Eric Rosenbaum,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
-
Between 2018 and early 2025, radiology case loads skyrocketed 25%, according to the Journal of the American College of Radiology.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
Noun
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The attack happened just as Ust-Luga resumed crude loadings over weekend after days of disruptions amid attacks in the region.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Across multiple designs and operating conditions, CNTF heaters consistently achieved higher specific power loadings than comparable metal-alloy elements.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The cornerstone of Musk's business empire, SpaceX benefits from billions of dollars in government contracts to provide launch services for classified satellites and other payloads using both its Falcon 9 rocket and its more powerful Falcon Heavy.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
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According to the Army, this speed was made possible through the use of 3D printing for the warhead housing and the Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit (CLIK), which serves as a universal interface for attaching lethal payloads to various drone platforms.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Remove the weights and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the crust is light golden brown.—
Carole Kotkin,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
Lift weights earlier in the day.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Their burdens, at least, were light.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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That means cutting permitting delays, reducing regulatory burdens, supporting small businesses and bringing film and production back to Los Angeles.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
And the Hornets were penalized with the loss of a second-round pick that was sent to the Heat, with teams spending in the millions to purchase such picks during drafts.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2026
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Keep it in a cool room (around 65°F is best), and be sure to keep it away from any cold drafts or hot air.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ballasts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballasts. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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