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 Taylor fell to the ground twice during the altercation, at one point hitting his head on the bus shelter bench. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026 Right-leaning lawmakers have also expressed their wish to curtail individual rulings from Supreme Court justices, who have often suspended laws, issued sweeping injunctions and made high-impact orders without the authorization of the full bench. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 Lee includes things like new benches, sidewalk and alley resurfacing, bollards, and alley aprons. — Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 No other Heat bench player scored more than four points on Wednesday. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bench
  1. judge
  2. tribunal
  3. court
Noun
  • Separately, the three law professors contacted by The Post reviewed the judge's ruling in Bakken's case, as well as portions of Gist's memorandum and the legal official's email.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The family court judge in the case, Marlon Weiss, was appointed by DeSantis in 2025 to the Circuit Court in Broward.
    — Jim Defede, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of judge
Noun
  • It was imposed by a labor dispute arbitration tribunal acting under a decision of the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), following the federal government’s request that the negotiations be taken in that direction.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • After the Nuremberg tribunal, the top Nazi leadership were rightly hanged for their crimes, yet even these were not open for public viewing, because that is savagery.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of tribunal
Noun
  • Police charged 52-year-old Mooresville resident Rod Moskowitz with assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, court records show.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • But even when Antetokounmpo was on the court in the second half, the Heat struggled.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bench

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bench

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