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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
In addition, the stocks may provide a rising, steady income and can be seen as a ballast during times of market volatility.
—
Michelle Fox, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2024
Even as a ballast—a heavy item used to help stabilize a ship—shipping these gravestones would have been expensive.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Sep. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for ballast 
Michelle Fox, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2024
Even as a ballast—a heavy item used to help stabilize a ship—shipping these gravestones would have been expensive.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Sep. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for ballast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballast
Noun
-
In Austin in 2023, a FedEx cargo plane was 200 feet away from crashing into a Southwest Airlines passenger plane, after both were cleared to use the same runway on a foggy day.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
3 Feb. 2025
-
In March, the Navy announced that seventeen vessels from the Merchant Marine, which provides fuel and cargo to warships, were being taken out of service for prolonged maintenance.—
Dexter Filkins,
The New Yorker,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The income numbers were a heavy improvement from the year-ago quarter, which saw a $442 million loss and $839 million in EBITDA, largely on the back of higher freight rates due to mass rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Feb. 2025
-
The retailer took an $80 million loss due to elevated freight costs in its fourth quarter of 2021 reported on March 2.—
Jeff Nash,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The cargo ship, which wrecked in 1857, had been carrying a load of gold.—
Bethany Bruner,
USA TODAY,
7 Feb. 2025
-
An expert shares simple tips to enhance your appliance and achieve sparkling dishes after every load.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
New beginning loading — be sure to set intentions under the new moon in your sign on Feb. 27.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
1 Feb. 2025
-
The other milestone was the loading of the missile system onto a chartered vessel during a training event, confirming its capacity for maritime transportation.—
Ryan Chan,
Newsweek,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Though one of its three parachutes was slow to deploy, the capsule also safely landed just after 10 minutes into the flight in a remote area as a team deployed to recover the craft and its scientific payloads.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
4 Feb. 2025
-
The Falcon Heavy needed a test payload, and Musk decided to use his personal 2010 Tesla Roadster.—
Joel Thayer,
Newsweek,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
One example can be as simple as shipments that are missing bills of lading or origin documents.—
Forbes,
Forbes,
1 June 2021
-
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
-
With its struggling economy, Egypt is drowning under the burden of millions of jobless Sudanese and Libyan refugees, along with 100,000 Gazans.—
Trudy Rubin,
Twin Cities,
9 Feb. 2025
-
These accommodations empower expecting employees to prioritize their own health and attend crucial prenatal appointments without the burden of extended absences or significant disruptions to their workflow.—
Rebecca L. Palmer,
Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Ship capacity transiting through the Panama Canal was 10 percent lower between September 2024 and January 2025 than the 2019-22 average, measured in deadweight tonnage, according to the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO).—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Feb. 2025
-
It was sent to space as a piece of deadweight on the inaugural test flight of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, and the vehicle is now destined to spend eternity soaring aimlessly through our cosmic neighborhood.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN,
7 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near ballast
Cite this Entry
“Ballast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballast. Accessed 18 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share