balance 1 of 2

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2
3
as in scale
a device for measuring weight use a balance to make sure you get the amounts precisely correct

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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

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5

balance

2 of 2

verb

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in to pay
to give what is owed for she had to balance her account with the hotel before checking out of her room

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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 balance
Noun
These jeans hit the perfect balance of comfort and style, with a flattering wide-leg fit that’s ideal for relaxed, on-the-go days. Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2025 An overwhelming majority of international scientists say harmful emissions of gases such as carbon dioxide contribute to warming by increasing the natural levels of CO2 and upsetting the natural balance of greenhouse gases, including water vapor, that maintain Earth’s atmosphere. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2025
Verb
The result, much like his cooking, balances modernity and tradition. Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2025 Long-term, however, OPEC+ members need higher oil prices to balance their budgets. Natasha Turak, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for balance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balance
Noun
  • Once the wolves were reintroduced, the number of elk declined and the park regained its equilibrium.
    D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
  • After the massage, Brashear gave me specific yoga postures and self-care practices selected to restore equilibrium.
    Kayla Blanton, Outside Online, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • On a day that had long been in the books as a tribute to Kevin Keegan, the manager who saved the club from oblivion, dragged it into the Premier League and opened up a world of possibilities, there was a discordant kind of symmetry.
    Chris Waugh, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
  • However, there could be some symmetry if the Diamondbacks signed Martinez to nearly bookend his career.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Neighborhoods that had been cut off for two years suddenly opened up, revealing a picture of hunger and suffering on a shocking scale.
    Declan Walsh, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • And indeed, there are few of its peers with the ambition to create art on this scale.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Individuals employed by the government in jobs which were not covered by Social Security previously could not collect Social Security upon retirement because of the offset of their public pension against Social Security to prevent a windfall.
    Wendy Hickey, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
  • That process may be referred to as offsetting the payment, administrative offset, or offset.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Textile fiber choices at every layer of the bed can determine whether a sleeper experiences a comfortable or restless night’s rest.
    SJ Studio, Sourcing Journal, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Every minute spent on low-impact tasks is a minute not spent on growth, innovation, or rest.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • That's not because anyone is celebrating another person losing a job, but rather out of the belief fewer IRS agents will equate with fewer audits and other negative consequences taxpayers could encounter.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Childhood is equated with whimsy, imagination, and originality.
    Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • This creates bottlenecks, where employees hesitate to act without approval.
    Carlos Hoyos, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Inside Space Force: Here's What the New Agency Does To be sure, some countries may hesitate to align civilian space activities with a military alliance.
    Andrew Hanna, Time, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • So McMahon and the Pullman community, who share her love for the church in Historical Pullman National Park, have banded together to pay the roughly $20,000 bill and reopen the church.
    Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Duncan agreed to pay more than $1.5 million to settle the lawsuit the same day prosecutors filed it, according to court records.
    Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Balance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balance. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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