bench

noun

ˈbench How to pronounce bench (audio)
Definition of benchnext
1
as in judge
a public official having authority to decide questions of law appealed to the bench for leniency

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in tribunal
an assembly of persons for the administration of justice a ruling from the bench is expected any day now

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 bench For more of the best end-of-season patio furniture deals at Pottery Barn, check out our favorite chairs, benches, sectionals, tables, and more below. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2026 Still, the Valkyries set a new franchise record for bench points in a game (54) and set a new high-water mark for margin of victory in a road game this season. — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 The Clippers elected to use Mathurin as a bench weapon after acquiring him, starting him only once out of 26 games. — William Guillory, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 They are often seen during breaks chatting with one another, with their arms around one another’s shoulders during inaudible bench discussions. — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bench
  1. judge
  2. tribunal
  3. court
Noun
  • Booking information from Clark County Detention Center in Nevada shows Hughes in custody with no bail, with a hearing before a judge scheduled for Thursday morning.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence in a Texas federal prison camp, had argued she was selectively prosecuted as a scapegoat, but the judge dismissed those claims as frivolous.
    — Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of judge
Noun
  • Many leaders of the slaughter were tried and convicted by a United Nations war crimes tribunal that has now closed down.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The tribunal found that Mladic, together with late Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic, were part of a criminal conspiracy to implement the plan.
    — Ivana Sekularac, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of tribunal
Noun
  • The draw looks pretty good for Paul to get to a possible fourth-round matchup with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who is returning to the singles court for the first time since suffering a wrist injury in April.
    — Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • For many of her fans, the practice court offered a chance to see her up close for free.
    — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of court

Browse Nearby Words

bemusing
bench
benches
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on bench

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bench

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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