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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barometers
Noun
-
The college has also launched a broader review of its collections and handling of human remains, including new ethical standards for acquisition and repatriation, The Phoenix reported.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2026
-
All signatures are legally binding and compliant with eIDAS and ESIGN standards.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Bidding registration is open through June 9, and EJ’s will schedule private viewings for collectors who have met the bidder’s criteria.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
-
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management announced its new Local Air Quality Advisory, which will alert Hoosiers of short-term conditions that can become unhealthy for several hours but don’t meet the criteria for an Air Quality Action Day.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Enforceable milestone deadlines tied directly to federal disbursements, so money flows only when benchmarks are met.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
-
This scorecard will mandate clear benchmarks in every contract, with funding shifts triggered by actual housing outcomes.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Both metrics beat analysts’ consensus estimates.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
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Beyond business metrics, Cherukuri’s ventures are increasingly focused on social and environmental impact.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barometers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barometers. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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