1
as in scales
a device for measuring weight
use a balance to make sure you get the amounts precisely correct
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in offsets
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
3
as in rests
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 equates
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 falters
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
3
as in pays
to give what is owed for
she had to balance her account with the hotel before checking out of her room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of balances
Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Millions of people who sometimes pay off their balances could also face new restrictions, the group said.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Credit card balances keep edging higher, according to recent reports by TransUnion and VantageScore.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
Chu also chastised Seibold, the finance executive, for failing to change the month-to-month loan balances on the falsified records.
—Samuel O'Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Jan. 2026
Taken together, the lawsuit alleges that the governing bodies of tennis deprive players and fans of the full benefits of competition, while locking the sport’s athletes into a system that is bad for their bodies and bank balances.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Inside, the design balances warmth and innovation.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2025
About 5 million people use Propel's app to check their SNAP balances, and get coupons and discounts on groceries.
—Maria Aspan, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
The cut creates a flattering shape that hugs curves and balances proportions beautifully.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
Despite being flat to the ground, the sleek and streamlined design of a slim sneaker elongates your legs, creating a lengthening effect that balances your proportions beautifully.
—Shelby Comroe, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
Of course, choosing an insurance option that balances financial constraints with solid coverage is by no means simple, and many owners purchase policies that either cost more than necessary or have coverage gaps.
—Ethan M. Stone, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Clark balances serious conversations with wry humor, which is how people often deal with stress.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
The ensemble cast is stacked, and Anderson’s direction balances urgency with empathy.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026
The dish beautifully balances richness from the meats, sweetness from onions and bell peppers, and bright acidity from the cherry peppers and wine.
—Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
The palette—natural stone, warm wood, and polished metal—balances contemporary minimalism with classic refinement.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2025
Throughout the hour-long premiere, Megan Gallagher’s adaptation of Andrea Mara’s 2021 novel balances the tragic urgency of a missing-kid mystery with the soapy indulgences of a trash-TV thriller.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
Washington’s neutrality preserved the republic’s future, enabling economic expansion under the funding system Hamilton designed, territorial growth through the Louisiana Purchase and beyond, and eventual emergence as a great power capable of tipping global balances.
—Verb
According to Makaym Dybenko, the system balances customization with military-standard compatibility, positioning DroneHunter Varta as a flexible counter-drone solution for modern combat environments.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for balances
Noun
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The local guides immediately stepped in, got off the boat and attempted to immobilize the snake so that Fry and Smith would be able to take one of its scales for their snake genetics study.—
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Body Scan 2 Withings, which has been making connected scales since 2009, announced an upgrade at CES 2026.—
Noun
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Houses have been being built here since the early 1900s, and so there's different offsets.—
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Carbon offsets in sports are also in the news, with scandals erupting around them in connection with sports from FIFA’s 2022 World Cup to basketball’s LA Clippers.—
Noun
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Complete three sets with 30-second rests between them.—
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But the rationale behind the NIH ban that human cells could make pigs too human rests on a misunderstanding of what gives beings – and human beings in particular – moral standing.—
Verb
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Without institutional support, parents are left with a narrative of drudgery—one that equates children with the loss of time, money, and opportunity.—
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That shift equates a stream by a YouTube or Spotify subscriber to two and a half streams by a non-subscriber.—
Verb
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Brown is likely a lock unless his usual consistency falters in the long program on Saturday.—
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Even when Cregger holds his mythology deceptively close to the chest, the emotional intrigue never falters in the wake of a mass disappearance that saw more than 30 local children disappear.—
Verb
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That is why the top area of the volcano is restricted, though not everyone pays heed.—
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Meta pays the full costs for the energy used by its data centers so that consumers do not bear these expenses, and the company supports the broader grid through these energy agreements.—
Noun
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Accessibility There’s a wheelchair accessible ramp at The Pointe Restaurant, and elevators for access to all public areas and guestrooms with specific rooms featuring lower counters and accessible showers and balconies.—
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Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams had the perfect counters for Minnesota’s defense.—
Verb
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The new plan adjusts a person’s payments based on their income, with repayments ranging from 10 to 25 years.—
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The device itself uses a button array designed for rapid input, with low-latency LEDs for clear visual cues in play and an adaptive difficulty system that adjusts challenges based on performance.—
Cite this Entry
“Balances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balances. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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