as in loads
a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported
the space shuttle can carry a maximum payload of approximately 50,000 pounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of payloads
The strike marks the first time in more than a year that Moscow has unleashed the Oreshnik, which can contain multiple warheads and carry either conventional or nuclear payloads.
—
Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
In an interview with Interesting Engineering, UEL researcher Daehyun Kim explained that SCARABS focuses on exploration reliability rather than experimental payloads.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
Water ice exploration To achieve that objective, Chang'e 7 is equipped with six scientific payloads related to water ice exploration.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 6 Jan. 2026
On board is a micro rover built by ispace called Tenacious as well as several commercial payloads.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
Vulcan may finally be on the cusp of delivering for the Space Force, but there are several military payloads in the queue to launch on Vulcan before GPS III SV-08, which was complete and in storage at its Lockheed Martin factory in Colorado.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2025
Both rockets released their payloads—think ion guages, magnetometers, and vapor chasers; the latter released colorful puffs of gas—during an auroral substorm.
—Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2025
Under Musk’s leadership, SpaceX reduced the cost of launching payloads to orbit by a factor of ten.
—Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Featuring special vibration-damping propellers that fold in when not in use, the aircraft can lift payloads of up to 15 kg (33 lb).
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2025
Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
In an interview with Interesting Engineering, UEL researcher Daehyun Kim explained that SCARABS focuses on exploration reliability rather than experimental payloads.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
Water ice exploration To achieve that objective, Chang'e 7 is equipped with six scientific payloads related to water ice exploration.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 6 Jan. 2026
On board is a micro rover built by ispace called Tenacious as well as several commercial payloads.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
Vulcan may finally be on the cusp of delivering for the Space Force, but there are several military payloads in the queue to launch on Vulcan before GPS III SV-08, which was complete and in storage at its Lockheed Martin factory in Colorado.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2025
Both rockets released their payloads—think ion guages, magnetometers, and vapor chasers; the latter released colorful puffs of gas—during an auroral substorm.
—Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2025
Under Musk’s leadership, SpaceX reduced the cost of launching payloads to orbit by a factor of ten.
—Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Featuring special vibration-damping propellers that fold in when not in use, the aircraft can lift payloads of up to 15 kg (33 lb).
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for payloads
Noun
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As more loads were seized through the summer and fall of 2024, Wedding began to rely increasingly on one of Toronto’s most colorful criminal defense attorneys, Deepak Paradkar, for information, according to the indictment.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
10 Jan. 2026
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In some of the tunnels that cut through the mountains, there were only a couple of inches to spare on either side of the loads.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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When looking for a more sophisticated ensemble, balance out your cargos with a pair of knee-high chunky rain boots to emulate this style.—
Alyssa Rotunno,
InStyle,
30 Dec. 2025
-
Both cargoes were strewn across the westbound lanes of I-70 after the crash.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
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However, arms control agreements limit current loadings to four or five.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, vehicle registration fees skyrocketed, taxes and fees on services ramped up and revenues continued to plummet as businesses and residents fled the oppressive burdens.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Jan. 2026
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So, what started as manageable balances for many people has since transformed into serious financial burdens.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Roser also recommends wearing these vests for moves where having weights in your hands is challenging, such as side lunges, side squats, and sumo squats.—
Jessie Quinn,
Flow Space,
7 Nov. 2025
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Honda will position batteries on the platform around the center of vehicles instead of at the rear, and adjust load-bearing for different vehicle weights using fewer unique parts.—
Daniel Leussink,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Payloads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/payloads. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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