1
as in judge
a public official having authority to decide questions of law
appealed to the bench for leniency
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
In the midst of a 9-19 start to the year and a negative-54 run differential, the Phillies fired long-time manager Rob Thomson and replaced him with bench coach Don Mattingly.
—
Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Following a bench trial without a jury, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy Margaret Russo (no relation to Dominic Russo) found Mackenzie guilty of all 12 charges against her.
—Katie Mather, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
If your space feels cluttered, consider this ottoman from Kelly Clarkson’s brand that doubles as a storage bench.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2026
Chapultepec Castle, once a sovereign residence, is worth a visit, as is Audiorama, an area filled with benches and speakers that pump out different types of music.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bench
Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Following a bench trial without a jury, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy Margaret Russo (no relation to Dominic Russo) found Mackenzie guilty of all 12 charges against her.
—Katie Mather, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
If your space feels cluttered, consider this ottoman from Kelly Clarkson’s brand that doubles as a storage bench.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2026
Chapultepec Castle, once a sovereign residence, is worth a visit, as is Audiorama, an area filled with benches and speakers that pump out different types of music.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bench
Noun
-
Meanwhile, a Cook County judge on Thursday declined to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate alleged wrongdoing by federal agents during Operation Midway Blitz.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
Vêtir also welcomed new additions– Stephanie Horton, senior director of global commerce at Google, and Nina Garcia, editor-in-chief of ELLE and Project Runway judge–to its advisory board, which would help deepen its expertise across global commerce, media, and luxury consumer behavior.—
Roy Stephen Canivel,
Footwear News,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Located just 2 miles away from the former insurance building that housed the residual mechanism, the ICC was set up as a permanent, global court to prosecute humanity’s worst crimes and forestall the need to create ad hoc tribunals for every conflict.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
-
Get a legal position on the liability gap before a tribunal gives you one.—
Jason Snyder,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
He is scheduled to appear in court on May 28, according to online court records cited by WISC.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
-
Jonathan Andic was taken to court facilities in Martorell, a city in eastern Spain where the case is being investigated, said a spokesperson for the Catalan regional police, Mossos d'Esquadra, who spoke on condition of anonymity following department policy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bench. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
