adjudicate

verb

ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkāt How to pronounce adjudicate (audio)
Definition of adjudicatenext
as in to decide
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) when we asked the salesclerk to adjudicate our disagreement, she agreed with me that the white shoes looked better

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 adjudicate In New York, on the other hand, a neutral third party determines eligibility and adjudicates payouts. — Jacob Lederman, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026 While some people had ongoing charges and declined to speak until their cases were adjudicated, others had already been convicted and were willing to talk because double jeopardy protected them from being charged a second time. — Rory Doherty, Time, 6 Aug. 2026 And when adjudicating this kind of accident, the courts tend to favor lenience. — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Autonomy, in both framings, is adjudicated by a physician, verified at the bedside. — Sai Rajagopal, STAT, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for adjudicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adjudicate
  1. decide
  2. settle
  3. determine
  4. arbitrate
  5. judge
  6. adjudge
Verb
  • The 6-foot-3, 170-pound Hayes ultimately decided to continue.
    — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • So Issa decides to bring out the real Paul Baker by inviting over all his bros.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of decide
Verb
  • People who settled here have a very bold spirit and a kind of grit that was required to make it.
    — Christine Lennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Separately, New Mexico secured a nearly $1 billion verdict against Meta for creating a public nuisance and exposing minors to harm, prompting Meta to settle with 47 other states for up to $18 billion, though private claims persist.
    — Schuyler Moore, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of settle
Verb
  • The scientists now plan to collaborate with cement industry stakeholders to determine if the technology can be scaled for mass production.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The panel will investigate the cause of the fire and its spread, determine whether adequate fire-safety measures were in place and evaluate the emergency response, a government notification said.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of determine
Verb
  • Ask whether the methodology is published in enough detail to reproduce, and who arbitrates a disputed grade.
    — Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • His case prompted a withering rebuke from the California Supreme Court, which said Kaiser’s system of arbitrating legal disputes was subject to long delays and unfair to its members.
    — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of arbitrate
Verb
  • In an earlier time, servers were generally judged based on aces and speed.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The selection process does not judge whether a study is admirable or absurd, good or bad.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of judge
Verb
  • Antoine Griezmann, France vs Croatia, 2018 Griezmann restores France’s lead with a penalty after Ivan Perisic was adjudged to have handled in the box.
    — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov won the Hart Trophy as the NHL player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team, marking the second such honor of his career after also winning the award in 2019.
    — Mercury News, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
Definition of adjudge

Browse Nearby Words

adjudging
adjudicate
adjudicated
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Adjudicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adjudicate. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All