as in hierarchies
a scheme of rank or order
their team placed third on the tournament ladder
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Recent Examples of ladders
At one point, eight tower ladders surrounded the building, shooting water onto the inferno from all directions, limiting the flames from spreading to other buildings.
—
Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
In the analog era, workers replaced the numbers on reader boards multiple times a day, occasionally from high up on ladders.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2026
The students have learned how to use power drills, make marshmallow shooters with PVC pipe and build ladders with 2×4 lumber.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The briefing room, which has seats for about 50 reporters, was packed well beyond that, as other journalists packed the aisles and photographers stood on step-ladders.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 6 Apr. 2026
That includes climbing ladders, handling tools and adapting to unpredictable environments.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Firefighters used ladders to rescue a resident who was trapped on a third-floor balcony.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
For pre-retirees evaluating approaches like bond ladders, bucket strategies, or annuities, this framework is a reminder that no single product or asset class is a silver bullet.
—Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
When first responders arrived at the scene, authorities discovered that staff at the venue and wedding guests had already provided initial first aid to some guests and used ladders to help those who fell through the collapsed floor.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026
Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
In the analog era, workers replaced the numbers on reader boards multiple times a day, occasionally from high up on ladders.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2026
The students have learned how to use power drills, make marshmallow shooters with PVC pipe and build ladders with 2×4 lumber.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The briefing room, which has seats for about 50 reporters, was packed well beyond that, as other journalists packed the aisles and photographers stood on step-ladders.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 6 Apr. 2026
That includes climbing ladders, handling tools and adapting to unpredictable environments.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Firefighters used ladders to rescue a resident who was trapped on a third-floor balcony.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
For pre-retirees evaluating approaches like bond ladders, bucket strategies, or annuities, this framework is a reminder that no single product or asset class is a silver bullet.
—Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
When first responders arrived at the scene, authorities discovered that staff at the venue and wedding guests had already provided initial first aid to some guests and used ladders to help those who fell through the collapsed floor.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ladders
Noun
-
Lamar’s win was widely celebrated as a milestone for hip-hop and contemporary music, challenging long-standing hierarchies that had treated hip-hop (and other popular genres) as outsiders.—
Kara Rogers Britannica Editors Apr. 10,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Flattened hierarchies also disrupt traditional career progression in ways that are only beginning to surface in the data.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Texas dominated many national rankings in the report as well, with the ZIP code encompassing the Dallas suburb of Crandall ranking second on the list and a more urban Dallas ZIP code ranking 10th.—
Faith Bugenhagen,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
However, as transistor dimensions approach atomic scales, quantum effects, heat dissipation, and fabrication constraints are making further miniaturization increasingly difficult.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Similar scales, smaller, more narrow, usually red, would remain well into the 1970s inside supermarkets and five-and-dimes like Woolworth.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Two points ahead of Edmonton entering the night, Vegas needed only a point to win the Pacific and set up a first-round series against Utah.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Instead, Trea Turner’s leadoff home run Wednesday night was all the Philadelphia Phillies managed against Imanaga in a dominant outing in the Cubs’ 11-2 victory to secure a series win.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ladders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ladders. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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