Definition of barometernext
as in criterion
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared a legendary Broadway flop that has subsequently become the barometer by which failure in the theater is judged

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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 barometer In a way, the success Andrae does or doesn’t experience in Toronto could be a barometer of the new vision Chayka has for the Leafs’ blue line. — Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Waffle House is a staple of Southern culture, appearing in song lyrics and on movie screens, and even serving as a federal barometer for severe weather events. — Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 8 Sep. 2026 One Ghetto swiftly became three; and as long as Venice’s fortunes continued to worsen, their existence was all but guaranteed—so much so that, by the mid-seventeenth century, their status could well be regarded as a barometer of Venice’s decline. — Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026 Wood, barometers, and portraits bring warmth, history, and Southern personality. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barometer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barometer
Noun
  • That policy needs to evaluate prospective patients against criteria such as the patient’s needs and the agency’s ability to provide services, in relation to the current caseload, average case mix intensity, staffing and competence of staff.
    — Colin Conner II, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Studies have estimated that anywhere between 25% and 35% of the patient population would meet the current clinical criteria for gene therapy.
    — Steven Ross Johnson, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • OpenAI took months to discover the incident and notify the Australian agencies affected — that’s unacceptable by my standard.
    — Rumman Chowdhury, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Airport officials said the new design also increases the distance between the terminal and the nearest runway, formerly as little as 257 feet, to about 880 feet — a change that brings the airport into compliance with FAA standards.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The commercial benchmark, by comparison, showed continuous performance decay during testing.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • In human medicine, research cites a benchmark of 10,000 steps per day as a threshold that, when combined with healthy nutrition, supports weight loss.
    — Will Boyd, Baltimore Sun, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • People who score high on measures of zest are also more likely to view their lives as meaningful.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The findings come three decades after the democratic government introduced a raft of measures — known as Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) — aimed at reversing the dispossession suffered by Black people under apartheid and colonialism.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026

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

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