ladders

noun

plural of ladder
as in hierarchies
a scheme of rank or order their team placed third on the tournament ladder

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 ladders Kids hoist ladders, haul gear, and do their best to get a handle on a hose. — Noel Brennan, CBS News, 13 July 2026 The trailer had piles of debris stacked all around it, including three ladders, four bike frames, eight tires, plywood, 5 gallons of motor oil and five black 55-gallon drums. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 July 2026 Attendants, some on the ladders of fire trucks, misted water across the crowds to cool them in the heat. — Nasser Karimi, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 Backes led us along a catwalk into the rest of the complex, a giant jungle gym of ladders and heavy machinery. — Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026 Pair cleaning with recurring tasks like air filter changes, and prioritize safety by using stable ladders to reach high fixtures. — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026 For generations, society rewarded people for accumulating knowledge, collecting credentials, and climbing institutional ladders. — C.m. Rubin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Fire crews quickly deployed ladders and were able to get both people down safely. — Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026 In addition, young runners can check out the Track & Field Zone to try their skills at mini hurdles, standing broad jumps, agility ladders and more. — AJC.com, 29 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ladders
  1. hierarchies
  2. rankings
  3. scales
  4. series
Noun
  • Companies are flattening hierarchies, as AI can automate coordination, reporting, and information relay—tasks consuming much of a manager's week.
    — Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • But this divine similarity evidently did nothing to preclude slavery, patriarchy, and the many other social hierarchies depicted elsewhere in the Bible.
    — Teresa M. Bejan, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026
Definition of hierarchies
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
Definition of rankings
Noun
  • Mercantile scales and rusted bird cages are scattered across crowded shelves.
    — Tara Anne Dalbow, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • The approval and absence of concessions have magnified speculation of Trump putting his thumb on the scales for Paramount CEO David Ellison’s plans to assemble a media conglomerate.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 13 July 2026
Definition of scales
Noun
  • They were reimposed on July 7, in tandem with the US launching strikes on Iran, in retaliation for a series of attacks on commercial ships near the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • That includes leads Evan Peters, who is filming Season 13 of American Horror Story for FX and Murphy, and Rebecca Hall, who is in talks for the female lead opposite Morgan Spector in Netflix’s Dan Brown series adaptation The Secret Of Secrets.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 July 2026
Definition of series

Browse Nearby Words

ladder
ladders
laddie
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Cite this Entry

“Ladders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ladders. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ladders

Nglish: Translation of ladders for Spanish Speakers

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