ballast Synonyms
Another word for ballast
• noun (Context 1)
Heavy material, such as gravel, sand, iron, or water, placed low in a vessel or vehicle to improve its stability and control its draft or buoyancy.
"The cargo ship took on thousands of gallons of seawater as counterweight to remain stable during the rough Atlantic crossing."
• noun (Context 2)
Something that provides mental, emotional, moral, or political stability and steadiness.
"Her calm demeanor served as vital emotional anchor for the entire team during the company crisis."
• noun (Context 3)
Coarse gravel or crushed rock laid to form a firm bed for railroad tracks or roads.
"Maintenance crews spread fresh granite gravel along the railway tracks to prevent the wooden ties from shifting."
• verb (Context 4)
To furnish or weight with heavy material in order to give stability or steadiness (especially to a ship, balloon, or structure).
"The crew ballasted the hull with heavy stones before setting sail without a full load of cargo."
Opposites of ballast
The opposite of ballast shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: