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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Recent Examples of barometers
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
Look at all economic barometers, social gains, and life span increases.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
And special elections, while useful metrics, are far from perfect barometers of public opinion.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2026
The Gallup Presidential Approval Rating has for decades been the among the top barometers cited by media outlets measuring public opinion of the president’s performance.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 11 Feb. 2026
When personal narratives dominate the news cycle, social platforms act as real-time barometers for public curiosity.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Part trade show, part cultural gathering, Pitti Uomo remains one of the clearest barometers of where men’s fashion is headed next.
—Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
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
Look at all economic barometers, social gains, and life span increases.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
And special elections, while useful metrics, are far from perfect barometers of public opinion.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2026
The Gallup Presidential Approval Rating has for decades been the among the top barometers cited by media outlets measuring public opinion of the president’s performance.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 11 Feb. 2026
When personal narratives dominate the news cycle, social platforms act as real-time barometers for public curiosity.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Part trade show, part cultural gathering, Pitti Uomo remains one of the clearest barometers of where men’s fashion is headed next.
—Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barometers
Noun
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The two-lane bridge is too narrow by modern standards, with just 1 foot of shoulder on each side.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
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But they are certified by California’s law enforcement standards agency.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
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
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On a recent boat tour of the harbor, a seal poked its head from the glassy water as the district’s executive director Chris Mikkelsen and development director Rob Holmlund explained that very few places meet the criteria for assembling floating turbines.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on Tidal Basin traditions and baseball benchmarks.—
,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
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The sixth annual national survey, a collaboration between Energage and USA TODAY, recognizes midsize and large organizations with at least 150 employees that are exceeding national benchmarks for employee satisfaction.—
Jessica Bryant,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Interestingly, though, Tigers hitters are performing pretty well in a lot of underlying metrics.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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The Royals valued his metrics, alongside his ability to pitch in high-leverage situations, to make the deal.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barometers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barometers. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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