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.
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Recent Examples of ballast
They are also well placed to help provide tools needed to rebuild the country: security ballast from Turkey, the NATO military power on Syria’s northern border, and oil millions from the Gulf.
—
Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2024
Trump’s nomination to his foreign policy team of stalwart advocates of Israel, such as Senator Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Governor Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel, and Representative Elise Stefanik as ambassador to the United Nations, adds ballast to that notion.
—Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
The Shipwreck Snorkel Trail, which includes an anchor, five concrete cannons and a ballast pile, was dedicated in 2002 by explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau (Jacques Cousteau’s son), according to the town.
—Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2024
Advertisement The species has colonized new regions when transported on ships’ hulls or in ballast water that is drained in ports.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ballast 
Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2024
Trump’s nomination to his foreign policy team of stalwart advocates of Israel, such as Senator Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Governor Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel, and Representative Elise Stefanik as ambassador to the United Nations, adds ballast to that notion.
—Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
The Shipwreck Snorkel Trail, which includes an anchor, five concrete cannons and a ballast pile, was dedicated in 2002 by explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau (Jacques Cousteau’s son), according to the town.
—Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2024
Advertisement The species has colonized new regions when transported on ships’ hulls or in ballast water that is drained in ports.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ballast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballast
Noun
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They are then exported out of Haiti to Miami, where the cargo is again quickly loaded onto aircraft bound for China, where they are then raised for food.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2025
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The Suez Canal, for example, is crucial for energy and cargo shipments moving between Asia and Europe.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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More than 60% of respondents said Lunar New Year freight, which consists of spring and summer products, were also frontloaded to avoid any supply chain disruption.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
17 Jan. 2025
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More than a dozen sawmills have closed in Canada and Oregon, Washington and Northern California as logging operations have struggled with a shortage of skilled labor and higher costs for energy, freight and other inputs.—
Don Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In their world, there were more hands to share the load, more voices to call out, more feet to hold the line.—
Katherine Schulten,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2025
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The Life of a College Athlete is filled with pressure College athletes already have days packed with classes (a full-time load is required) along with a substantial commitment to team practices and activities (often more than 40 hours per week); along with other demands including family, etc.—
Karen Weaver,
Forbes,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Hornets’ security, the Observer previously reported, typically places barricades outside the stadium’s loading dock area to keep pedestrians and fans at bay — particularly when a car is leaving.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Jan. 2025
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The circular loading indicator kept spinning, which felt a little overwhelming.—
Robert Anderson,
PCMAG,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Like Starship, the demo payloads were not expected to reach orbit.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN,
17 Jan. 2025
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The license is for the launch of the company's RFA One rocket, which has an advertised payload of 1.3 metric tons to low-Earth orbit.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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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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To ease their burden, PwC urges automakers to be as efficient as possible including regionalization and improving supply chains.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
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On January 14, two bills advanced in the Labor Committee that might well be the spark that ignites widespread labor unrest, even as the push imposes heavier burdens on our state’s consumers and taxpayers.—
Frank Ricci,
National Review,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Not to mention cutting out the deadweight middlemen in publishing.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes,
30 Dec. 2024
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That represented 68% of the vessels when measured by deadweight, and the lowest number of tankers tracked with IG club insurance, surpassing 67% uninsured recorded in July and August.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near ballast
Cite this Entry
“Ballast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballast. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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