balance 1 of 4

Definition of balancenext
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as in scale
a device for measuring weight use a balance to make sure you get the amounts precisely correct

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in offset
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective the balance to the mountain of complaints are the many letters of praise that we also receive

Synonyms & Similar Words

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balance

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verb (1)

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as in to equate
to make equal in amount, degree, or status tried to balance the total amount of money spent on gifts for each child

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in to pay
to give what is owed for she had to balance her account with the hotel before checking out of her room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

balanced

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adjective

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balanced

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verb (2)

past tense of balance

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 balance
Noun
Part of what made La Peste distinctive was the vocal balance Dayton struck, between disdain and an almost deadpan affect. Eric R. Danton, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026 Commissioners have framed the plan as a way to better balance enrollment and resources, while opponents say there are still unanswered questions about funding, student outcomes and community impact. Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
You are required by law to balance the budget. NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026 Colorado’s mayors recognize that balancing the state budget requires difficult choices. Heidi Williams, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
This horizontal pulling exercise effectively targets your mid-back, rhomboids, and traps, all of which contribute to improved posture and a balanced back. Jakob Roze, Health, 21 Apr. 2026 Their responsibility is not to advance partisan agendas, but to make thoughtful, balanced decisions that serve the best interests of their residents and the long-term health of their cities. Denise Horland, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
Upon first spritz, the perfume bursts with caramel, coconut, and vanilla, balanced by fresh citrus to prevent it from becoming saccharine sweet. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2026 Their weaknesses could be balanced with machine strengths. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for balance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balance
Noun
  • Taking our Solar System as a proxy for what’s out there in the galaxy and the rest of the Universe, there are likely tens of trillions of bodies in hydrostatic equilibrium, at least, across the entirety of the Milky Way.
    Big Think, Big Think, 14 Apr. 2026
  • The immediate aftermath involved two months of recovery, which entailed physical and occupational therapy that helped Lee find equilibrium and regain movement, the magazine reported.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The unsettling symmetry of the current moment is that the infrastructure videos and hot-water memes are playing the same role in reverse.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026
  • This similarity suggests that superconductivity in nickelates may be related to Fermi surface reconstruction and electronic symmetry.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Large distributors dominate the market, and they’re built for scale, not specificity.
    Maryam Ahmed, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
  • According to Musk, at scale, the robot could cost between USD 20,000 and 30,000, roughly in line with a typical car.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The significance of the fault and recognition of its large cumulative offset would not be fully appreciated until the advent of plate tectonics more than 50 years later.
    Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Lastly, what about those spending offsets?
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • For the remaining time, they are expected to stay on call, often without rest, ready to care for vulnerable New Yorkers.
    Christopher Marte, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
  • This means rest could be misclassified as sleep in some cases.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • In a time when science’s boundaries were less stable, Lamarck’s poetic theories had significant influence, and its traces can even be detected in contemporary epigenetics.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • When expectations are clear, support feels more stable and mutual respect grows naturally.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Customer data at rest is encrypted and then stored using AES-256, a symmetric algorithm that quantum computers have no advantage over classical computing in breaking.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Completed around 1570 in northern Italy, the Villa Rotonda features symmetrical facades and harmonious proportions that have been equated with Renaissance humanism and rationalism.
    Kevin D. Murphy, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • As noted in a report from TWZ, the aircraft’s proportions indicate it is sized to fit within the constraints of a supercarrier deck while carrying a substantial weapons load.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
  • In this game, a Proposer is given a sum of money and invited to choose in what proportion to split it with a Receiver.
    Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Balance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balance. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

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