JUDGE Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'judge' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of judge are conclude , deduce , gather , and infer . While all these words mean "to arrive at a mental conclusion," judge stresses a weighing of the evidence on which a conclusion is based. // judge people by their actions

Q: When could 'conclude' be used to replace 'judge'?

The words conclude and judge are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, conclude implies arriving at a necessary inference at the end of a chain of reasoning. // concluded that only the accused could be guilty

Q: How do 'deduce' and 'infer' relate to one another, in the sense of 'judge'?

Deduce often adds to infer the special implication of drawing a particular inference from a generalization. // denied we could deduce anything important from human mortality

Q: When is it sensible to use 'gather' instead of 'judge'?

In some situations, the words gather and judge are roughly equivalent. However, gather suggests an intuitive forming of a conclusion from implications. // gathered their desire to be alone without a word

Q: When can 'infer' be used instead of 'judge'?

While the synonyms infer and judge are close in meaning, infer implies arriving at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence; if the evidence is slight, the term comes close to surmise . // from that remark, I inferred that they knew each other

judge 1 of 2

noun

ˈjəj

Definition of judge

as in referee

a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy their father always played the role of judge when there was a disagreement between the siblings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in court

a public official having authority to decide questions of law the judge gave the defendant a suspended sentence

Synonyms & Similar Words

judge

2 of 2

verb

as in to decide

to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) the committee will judge the case solely on the evidence

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to estimate

to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement considering the amount of dough we have, I judge we'll get about six dozen cookies out of it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to understand

to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information I judge that the girl has had a troubled relationship with her mother

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to think

to have as an opinion I judge that he knew what kind of woman she was when he married her

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word judge distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of judge are conclude, deduce, gather, and infer. While all these words mean "to arrive at a mental conclusion," judge stresses a weighing of the evidence on which a conclusion is based.

judge people by their actions

When could conclude be used to replace judge?

The words conclude and judge are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, conclude implies arriving at a necessary inference at the end of a chain of reasoning.

concluded that only the accused could be guilty

How do deduce and infer relate to one another, in the sense of judge?

Deduce often adds to infer the special implication of drawing a particular inference from a generalization.

denied we could deduce anything important from human mortality

When is it sensible to use gather instead of judge?

In some situations, the words gather and judge are roughly equivalent. However, gather suggests an intuitive forming of a conclusion from implications.

gathered their desire to be alone without a word

When can infer be used instead of judge?

While the synonyms infer and judge are close in meaning, infer implies arriving at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence; if the evidence is slight, the term comes close to surmise.

from that remark, I inferred that they knew each other

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 judge

Noun

They should be required to obtain independent evidence before presenting a match to a witness, and judges and defendants should be told whether the technology has been used in a case. — Edward Longe, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026 While there won’t be a big-ticket election for mayor or Congress or anything of the sort, there’ll be a municipal election for judges and three DAs, and the nonpartisan election question can also go on that ballot. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026

Verb

The goal was to collect food for more than 200 kits, and judging by the more than five pallets of food that packed the truck, the members more than made the goal. — Steve Lord, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2026 People with disabilities deserve the basic dignity of existing in the world, using the tools that support our bodies, without fear of being judged or harassed. — Nicole Clark, Time, 8 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for judge

Recent Examples of Synonyms for judge

Noun

Additionally, authorities impounded seven vehicles for 30 days, issued 74 citations to people at the takeovers and cited 22 vehicles for offenses requiring an inspection by a state referee, the LASD release said.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
When asked about the new emphasis from referees, Redick echoed sentiments shared by Minnesota coach Chris Finch last week, saying the NBA’s focus on defensive flopping doesn’t align with what the goal should be.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of referee

Verb

Preliminary results as of Thursday afternoon showed Democrat Xavier Becerra leading Hilton, 64% to 36%, with the Associated Press estimating 61% of votes counted.

— Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 6 Nov. 2026
The Associated Press, which estimates the voter turnout, has not called the race.

— Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of estimate

Verb

After accepting the Up Against It role, Whitaker requested time with an oncologist for a briefing on Rose’s treatment to understand the real-life protocols around treating cancer.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
But for decades, scientists didn’t understand the neural underpinnings of cognitive exhaustion.

— Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

Portavadie, Argyll Situated on the banks of Loch Fyne on Scotland’s west coast, Portavadie is home to what is thought to be the biggest heated outdoor infinity pool in the country, said Rachel Dixon in The Guardian.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 5 Nov. 2026
Roughly nine in 10 voters nationally say government corruption is a major factor in their vote, about the same as the cost of living, and about six in 10 voters think the president puts his own personal interests over the country.

— S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of think

Noun

The contemporary committee considers managers, executives and umpires whose primary contributions have come since 1980.

— Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026
The clue [Aid in evaluating some calls] refers to calls made by umpires or referees, who often consult SLOW-MOTION replay before making their rulings.

— Sean McGowan, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of umpire

Noun

On Monday, as Palacios wrapped up his second-day of testimony under cross-examination by Sanon’s defense lawyer Humberto Dominguez, Désir made his initial appearance before a federal magistrate judge in Miami across the street.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
The Justice Department charged the two former officials by complaint instead of a grand jury indictment — a move the magistrate judge overseeing the case described as unusual.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of magistrate

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judged

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Style

“Judge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/judge. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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