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barometers

noun

plural of barometer
as in standards
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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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 barometers Wood, barometers, and portraits bring warmth, history, and Southern personality. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 7 Sep. 2026 Investors and borrowers will instead focus on Wednesday's release of the Fed's Summary of Economic Projections, a report that distills the FOMC's forecasts for unemployment, GDP growth and other barometers. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 16 June 2026 That’s what makes pilots the best barometers for how well a piece of luggage works. — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2026 The mercury barometers in the observers’ office — one of which the observatory believes to be the oldest such instrument in active daily use in the United States — are a case in point. — Laura Martin Agudelo, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026 And assets under management are poor barometers of a venture fund’s success, generally. — Ben Weiss, Fortune, 16 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 The barometers for our rankings include Opta’s projections for the remainder of their campaign, the teams’ performances in 2025-26, relative squad strength and their history in the competition. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026 Besides, the issue is further complicated by the fact that there are so many barometers of greatness. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barometers
  1. standards
  2. criteria
  3. benchmarks
  4. metrics
Noun
  • Inspectors have found hundreds of allegedly fictitious facilities, while at least 833 kitchens have been shut down for failing to meet hygiene and sanitation standards.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Both choices will serve students when faculty are clear about their ambitions and standards.
    — Sian Leah Beilock, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of standards
Noun
  • The order gives Interior Secretary Doug Burgum 90 days to determine whether the wolves have met federal recovery criteria for delisting or downlisting under the Endangered Species Act.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Loving dogs, and wanting to help people in need, are two of the biggest criteria for raisers to become a perfect match with Canine Companions.
    — Patricia Babcock McGraw OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of criteria
Noun
  • Oil prices traded sharply lower on Friday, but both major benchmarks could still end the week above $100 per barrel for the first time since mid-May.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Those benchmarks project to at least double the amount the Bengals have used over the last four seasons, if believing the chatter over time about leaning back into the 2021 philosophy for using that weapon to create explosives.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of benchmarks
Noun
  • But the hope is that QBI provides a better picture of quarterback quality than the traditional stats (passing touchdowns, passing yards, completion rate) as well as the more advanced metrics (EPA and success rate).
    — Austin Mock, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Evaluation metrics also change frequently, as new ones get created.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of metrics

Browse Nearby Words

barometer
barometers
baron
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Cite this Entry

“Barometers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barometers. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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