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 Just off the kitchen, custom bench seating in the dining area gives you another perch for taking in the city views. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 30 Sep. 2026 Over the course of Next Gen NYC’s season, which ended this past week, the model Ava Dash grabs a slice of pizza on Fulton Street; strolls through the Seaport; and calls her father, the hip-hop mogul Damon Dash, from a bench at Pier 17. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 29 Sep. 2026 Our favorite spots to lounge were the roof deck loungers and the padded bench seating beneath shady palm fronds in the atrium courtyard. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026 Even small entryway changes like a bench and a landing surface for bags can reduce strain while keeping the space welcoming. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bench
  1. judge
  2. tribunal
  3. court
Noun
  • Perhaps a handful of judges would be confirmed, but Cabinet secretaries would face long slogs.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The judge’s order expires later this week, and the three outlets are seeking a preliminary injunction to sideline the ban in the longer term.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of judge
Noun
  • Any matters requiring legal enforcement are referred directly to the Texas judicial system, said the tribunal, which likened its work to the services provided by Jewish Beth Din courts and Catholic ecclesiastical tribunals.
    — David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The two-day hearing before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Montevideo, Uruguay, marks the first time the tribunal has considered a case involving Indigenous peoples living in isolation in Peru.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of tribunal
Noun
  • The companies say a flood of lawsuits in state courts is not the way to deal with the global issue.
    — LINDSAY WHITEHURST, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The two defendants in the Manchester case spoke in court through interpreters, only to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses, PA reported.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of court

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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 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bench

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bench

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