1
as in judge
a public official having authority to decide questions of law
appealed to the bench for leniency
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bench
After a dismal July that sank their chances of adding to the roster, the Cardinals have strung together wins despite a depleted bullpen and a limited bench.
—
Katie Woo, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2025
There’s a deep bench of skilled, capable older adults ready to contribute.
—Kendra Davenport, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
In the three-acre organic garden, cozy benches are tucked among apple trees and beds of herbs, flowers, and vegetables.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2025
The busy Yankees added a new starting third baseman in Ryan McMahon; overhauled their bullpen with the additions of David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird; and revamped their bench.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bench
Katie Woo, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2025
There’s a deep bench of skilled, capable older adults ready to contribute.
—Kendra Davenport, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
In the three-acre organic garden, cozy benches are tucked among apple trees and beds of herbs, flowers, and vegetables.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2025
The busy Yankees added a new starting third baseman in Ryan McMahon; overhauled their bullpen with the additions of David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird; and revamped their bench.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bench
Noun
-
So far during Trump’s second term, the Justices have made a string of emergency rulings in the President’s favor, blessing the chaos that Trump himself unleashed, and with little regard for the work of lower-court judges.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
6 Aug. 2025
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Her husband, Steve, later remarried and became a federal judge.—
Gillian Telling,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The tribunal will zoom in on Russia’s wartime aggression, in contravention of the UN Charter, and on the very top leaders orchestrating the invasion.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Unfortunately, the tribunal interpreted it differently.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Most recently, OpenAI floated a compromise, asking the court to agree that news organizations didn't need to search all ChatGPT logs.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
5 Aug. 2025
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Suspicious purchases outlined in court records show $42,805 in Square/Block transactions, nearly $40,000 in Amazon orders, $19,000 in grants/bonus payments, more than $13,000 for computer work and service and more than $8,000 in AT&T payments.—
Katie Nixon,
The Tennessean,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bench. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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