ballast

Definition of ballastnext
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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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 ballast That means multiple family members can drive the same kart, and if there’s a minimum weight requirement in your class, there’s space for 33 pounds (15 kilograms) of ballast. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 10 Sep. 2026 Moss-Bachrach, grizzled and heartbreaking as the father, gives the film its ballast. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 The arrival of Stan Kroenke, whose sports empire includes the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Premier League’s Arsenal, among others, brings with it ballast. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 For most investors, bonds are a component of their accounts and usually (though not always) provide a ballast against stock volatility. — Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ballast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballast
Noun
  • Since its founding, Storyteller has made flexible vans with outdoor accoutrements front of mind, building out versatile multi-use spaces for strapping in large cargo during the ride before rearranging into a bedroom/workshop once there.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Sulaeman said that a tanker carrying fuel to Bali suffered an anchor problem while preparing to unload cargo, delaying deliveries to the island’s main fuel terminals.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The freight forwarding giant expects Khor Fakkan and Fujairah to remain under significant pressure in the coming weeks.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The San Francisco Fed noted another manufacturer’s complaint that every material purchased in recent weeks came with a freight surcharge.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Neo1 combines hydraulic force with electric servo control to balance load capacity and positioning accuracy.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
  • According to Formlabs, this improves strength, toughness, heat resistance, and resistance to gradual deformation under sustained loads, while producing a harder, less tacky surface.
    — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The BetMGM app is slower loading and the bet builder is a little clunky.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • While top-loading machines don’t have as many problems with moldy door seals, letting the drum dry when the machine is not in use is still a good idea.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The payloads on the Transporter-18 Varda craft ranged from pharmaceuticals to demo navigation systems to exterior thermal-protection materials.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Designed for high payload capacity and cost efficiency, Nebula-2 can support a wide range of space missions.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Cargill built a large soybean-lading facility at Santarem, some 500 miles up the Amazon.
    — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
  • One example can be as simple as shipments that are missing bills of lading or origin documents.
    — Forbes, Forbes, 1 June 2021
Noun
  • Referred to as financial toxicity, a diagnosis can result in harmful economic burden, stress and debt due to high out-of-pocket medical costs stemming from diagnostic tests, treatments, prescription drugs and hospital stays.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • But according to a new study, Connecticut is among the states with the highest leaf burden for homeowners, leaving residents to figure out what to do with all those leaves.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • By upgrading synthetic skin from a passive sensor into an energy harvester, the Fudan team offers a clever alternative to deadweight batteries.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026
  • QuantCube’s indicator measures the volume of deadweight tonnage leaving Iraqi and UAE ports, which provides an estimate of the cargo weight the ships are carrying.
    — Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 9 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ballast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballast. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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