1
as in equilibrium
a condition in which opposing forces are equal to one another
in order to determine the weight of that beaker, you need to get the two pans of the scale in perfect balance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in symmetry
a balanced, pleasing, or suitable arrangement of parts
the balance of the landscaping is in keeping with the symmetry of so many 18th-century mansions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in scale
a device for measuring weight
use a balance to make sure you get the amounts precisely correct
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in offset
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective
the balance to the mountain of complaints are the many letters of praise that we also receive
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in rest
a remaining group or portion
and the balance of the contestants should stand in that last corner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to equate
to make equal in amount, degree, or status
tried to balance the total amount of money spent on gifts for each child
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hesitate
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
his tendency to balance and waffle on certain hot-button issues may hurt him in the general election
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 balance
Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025
Hampton is a bruising (6-0, 221), north/south runner who plays with patience and impressive contact balance.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025
Following in the footsteps of films like Phone Booth, Red Eye and, more recently, Carry-On, this Blumhouse production, which premiered at SXSW before its theatrical release in April, balances its pulpy narrative with an escalating and terrifying tension.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balance
Noun
The study looked at the sleep benefits of five bedtime fitness regimes: aerobic/endurance, strength/resistance, balance, flexibility, and combo.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025
Hampton is a bruising (6-0, 221), north/south runner who plays with patience and impressive contact balance.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
The home’s design masterfully balances intimate living spaces with grand-scale entertaining areas.
—Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025
Following in the footsteps of films like Phone Booth, Red Eye and, more recently, Carry-On, this Blumhouse production, which premiered at SXSW before its theatrical release in April, balances its pulpy narrative with an escalating and terrifying tension.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balance
Noun
-
Nurturing Work-Life Synergy Maintaining a harmonious equilibrium between demanding job roles and personal life is pivotal for sustaining employee engagement.—
Wayne Yu,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Adrien Brody’s László Tóth is a Holocaust survivor battling for postwar equilibrium with a determination and wit that keeps us gripped.—
Raven Smith,
Vogue,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Household items such as rugs and lamps, which themselves can be appreciated for their geometric order and symmetry, are placed in the gallery areas not as remote museum pieces but in some semblance of their practical uses.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
2 Mar. 2025
-
Prince William Poses with King Frederik of Denmark as the Countries Face Off in Soccer: 'May the Best Team Win' There’s a symmetry to William’s love of Aston Villa and this year: He was born in 1982 when Villa coincidentally last won Europe's most prestigious club trophy, the European Cup.—
Simon Perry,
People.com,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The adjacent Manchester ship canal, finished in 1894 — ‘canal’ in the northern English sense does not convey its scale — was capable of handling cargo ships on its docks.—
Michael Walker,
The Athletic,
15 Mar. 2025
-
But all corn, whether grown at a large scale or selected carefully by hand, can be traced to Mexico, says Roberts, and different types and colors have had many names over thousands of years of culinary tradition, conflict, and migration.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
And it’s assumed these targets will be met with some reliance on offsets, where companies pay others to cut emissions rather than doing it themselves.—
Justin Worland,
TIME,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Before determining taxes on capital gains, a taxpayer first offsets, or nets, gains and losses against each other.—
Bob Carlson,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
World Sleep Day, which just passed on March 15, serves as an annual reminder of sleep's profound impact on our lives, but quality rest deserves our attention every day of the year.—
Pooja Shah,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
-
The universe is encouraging you to lie low, rest, recharge and live in the moment.—
Kyle Thomas,
People.com,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Change is up to us viewers, not the 100-year-old institution that equates excellence with the white, male perspective.—
Cristina Escobar,
refinery29.com,
3 Mar. 2025
-
In the process, Harrison’s play seems to equate the natural desire to survive, to feel and to matter — to discover, to mourn, to enjoy and create — with a kind of hubris that, like global warming, will lead inevitably to extinction.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Reach out to people, don’t hesitate to ask questions and don’t always focus on specializing—the world out there today is (often) seeking generalists.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
-
Here’s to the week ahead, and don’t hesitate to reach out.—
Quartz Staff,
Quartz,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The big picture: Price elasticity measures the degree to which consumers are willing, or unwilling, to pay higher prices for certain items.—
Felix Salmon,
Axios,
10 Mar. 2025
-
Americans pay an average of $14,000 a year in federal taxes, but in some states, the local tax burden is significantly higher than in others.—
Ben Kesslen,
Quartz,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Balance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balance. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share