as in criterion
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared
a legendary Broadway flop that has subsequently become the barometer by which failure in the theater is judged
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Recent Examples of barometer
Weighing words while doing the work Edelman’s barometer has been telling executives for years that business is seen as more competent and ethical than governments, NGOs, or the media.
—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Notable population changes, up or down, seem to be a particular barometer triggering criticism.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
And besides that, with their hard-fought Final Four victories Friday over Texas and Connecticut, respectively, barometers for other programs that dream of ascending to such elite heights.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
And the barometer in the game for whether or not something's funny is if the crew behind the cameras start laughing, right?
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for barometer
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Notable population changes, up or down, seem to be a particular barometer triggering criticism.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
And besides that, with their hard-fought Final Four victories Friday over Texas and Connecticut, respectively, barometers for other programs that dream of ascending to such elite heights.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
And the barometer in the game for whether or not something's funny is if the crew behind the cameras start laughing, right?
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for barometer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barometer
Noun
-
The study is examining whether portions of the coastline meet criteria for national park designation, including significance, suitability and feasibility, along with the need for National Park Service management.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
During this time, the IRS reviews your financial information and determines whether your offer meets its approval criteria.—
Deane Biermeier,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
So, in a general process of professionalization that changed the way that music was experienced, raising standards while widening the gap between expert and amateur, the mandolin fell out of fashion.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Brent crude oil, the international standard, has gone from roughly $70 per barrel before the war in late February to more than $119 at times.—
Brian Dakss,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The operation shattered Hezbollah's communications network and became the benchmark in Israel for a strike that fundamentally changed the battlefield.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The company is working to improve safety and reasoning through benchmarks that guide how robots should behave in real-world scenarios.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The list of measures in the statement touches on ties that China had suspended in recent years as tensions increased.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
He’s been limited throughout camp as a precautionary measure, according to Frost.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barometer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barometer. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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