a legendary Broadway flop that has subsequently become the barometer by which failure in the theater is judged

Recent Examples on the Web

Chinese regulators haven't spoken publicly about the deal, but state-run media is often viewed as a barometer of sentiment among senior officials. Sherisse Pham, CNN, "Nvidia's $40 billion Arm deal might hit a snag with China," 17 Sep. 2020

The pound, which has acted as a market barometer to Brexit since the 2016 referendum, had been rallying along with other currencies in Group-of-10 nations against the U.S. dollar. Michael Msika, Fortune, "Lagging stocks, a battered pound: investors get a painful glimpse of ‘no-deal Brexit’ Britain," 9 Sep. 2020

Kansas City offers Miami a true barometer of the progress the Dolphins have made and will need to continue making during their rebuild with hopes of eventually contending in Super Bowls themselves. Safid Deen, sun-sentinel.com, "Dolphins look to take another step forward in Year 2 of rebuild," 7 Sep. 2020

The time-travel spy thriller's debut this weekend in US movie theaters will be closely watched as a barometer of the industry's health. Jill Disis, Michelle Toh And David Culver, CNN, "Hollywood needs a blockbuster hit in China. 'Tenet' could be it," 4 Sep. 2020

Friday's jobs data was the second-to-last employment report — for most voters, the most visible barometer of the economy — before Election Day, Nov. 3. Arkansas Online, "U.S. unemployment rate falls to 8.4% even as hiring slows," 4 Sep. 2020

The most basic units sport weather forecasts and rudimentary GPS functions, and other models stack on the technology with downloadable maps, satellite imagery, marine charts, barometer, digital compasses, and more. The Editors, Field & Stream, "Three Things to Consider Before Buying a Satellite Communication Device," 1 Sep. 2020

Alcohol sales have long served as a major barometer of the economy of Dubai, a top travel destination in the UAE, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates. Jon Gambrell, Star Tribune, "Alcohol rules again loosen as Dubai seeks economic recovery," 19 Aug. 2020

That report is a barometer of finalized purchases over the next two months — in this case, the record setting months of June and July. Matt Ott, chicagotribune.com, "US home sales spike an unprecedented 24.7% in July," 21 Aug. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'barometer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.