as in cargo
heavy material (such as rocks or water) that is put on a ship to make it steady or on a balloon to control its height in the air
—often used figuratively
A large amount of ballast kept the boat from capsizing. She provided the ballast the family needed in times of stress.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballast
The installation incorporates robust mooring systems, wave breakers and ballast anchors to ensure stability in varying conditions.
—
Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2025
And bonds typically offer ballast during stock market routs.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
Stronger ballast water regulations developed through the agency’s research have helped prevent new invasions in the Great Lakes.
—Christine Keiner, The Conversation, 28 Feb. 2025
Without sufficient ballast, its word balloons threaten to float charmingly away.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballast
Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2025
And bonds typically offer ballast during stock market routs.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
Stronger ballast water regulations developed through the agency’s research have helped prevent new invasions in the Great Lakes.
—Christine Keiner, The Conversation, 28 Feb. 2025
Without sufficient ballast, its word balloons threaten to float charmingly away.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballast
Noun
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Cathay Pacific has been flying cargo flights to Dallas for more than 20 years, but April marks its first passenger flight ever to the city.—
Taylor McIntyre,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2025
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Despite a drop in overall volume, U.S. domestic revenue rose 1.4% thanks to a 4.5% increase in revenue per piece and continued strength in air cargo demand.—
Catherine Baab,
Quartz,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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President Donald Trump is moving to undo many Biden-era regulations on diesel truck emissions and incentives meant to encourage an EV transition, and his tariff policies are likely to depress the freight industry.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
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Their services include transportation and delivery based on their air and ground network, warehousing, ocean freight, airfreight, and customs brokerage.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In the early 2000s, an HIV viral load test could cost as much as $100.—
Jennifer Lotito,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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It can be prepared in advance to take a load off your shoulders—just add the champagne before serving.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Regarding color, the Switch 2's screen is an upgrade from the original Switch's LCD; the red in the loading screen appeared well-saturated in our time with the handheld.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
23 Apr. 2025
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Supplementing with 3-5 grams of creatine per day for at least four weeks is just as effective as taking loading doses and is associated with fewer side effects.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In the first five minutes of the flight, the Atlas V jettisoned its five boosters, payload fairing, and kerosene-fueled first stage.—
Alex Goy,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2025
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Their mission will include extravehicular activities, or spacewalks, and outreach events, as well as conducting a range of science experiments and installing and retrieving science payloads outside Tiangong.—
Andrew Jones,
Space.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
One example can be as simple as shipments that are missing bills of lading or origin documents.—
Forbes,
Forbes,
1 June 2021
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According to bills of lading and other records provided to the San Antonio Express-News by officials at 23 food banks, CRE8AD8 delivered about 147,000 boxes total to food banks.—
Tom Orsborn,
ExpressNews.com,
1 July 2020
Noun
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The organizations that succeed will be those that view AI governance not as a compliance burden but as a business enabler, a foundation for building trusted, transparent and effective AI systems that drive innovation while managing risk.—
Abhi Sharma,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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For example, if $100 million in pension savings is achieved, and towns are still collecting $1 billion in property taxes, then the state would have communities reduce that burden to $900 million — and send cities and towns $100 million to offset their revenue loss.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Losing that 200 pounds of deadweight freed me up to focus on advancing my career.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2025
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Losing that 200 pounds of deadweight has freed me up to focus on advancing my career.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ballast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballast. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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