as in hierarchies
a scheme of rank or order
their team placed third on the tournament ladder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
Firefighter ladders reached only the sixth floor; hoses fell short.
—Christina Ray Stanton, New York Daily News, 25 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
Please, remember to stay away from any black cats, ladders and broken mirrors.
—Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Mar. 2026
Beyond saving time, these robots offer a genuine safety benefit by eliminating the need to climb tall ladders just to reach your windows.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
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
Firefighter ladders reached only the sixth floor; hoses fell short.
—Christina Ray Stanton, New York Daily News, 25 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
Please, remember to stay away from any black cats, ladders and broken mirrors.
—Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Mar. 2026
Beyond saving time, these robots offer a genuine safety benefit by eliminating the need to climb tall ladders just to reach your windows.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ladders
Noun
-
Flattened hierarchies also disrupt traditional career progression in ways that are only beginning to surface in the data.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Its mission was to upset hierarchies, not reinforce them, and few things were more offensive to comedians than bootlicking.—
Robert Lynch,
Chicago Tribune,
3 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
-
Enter insider trading to tilt the scales.—
William Mersey,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Like other smart scales, the RunStar 8E SmartScan Ultra calculates your body composition using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) via electrodes in its base.—
Andrew Gebhart,
PC Magazine,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Athletics got to Yankees closer David Bednar in the ninth inning Wednesday night, paving the way for a 3-2, series-tying victory for the nomadic visitors at Yankee Stadium.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Choptima is a sleek, high-quality series of chopping boards designed in Denmark for everyday kitchen use.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ladders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ladders. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
