1
as in judges
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 tribunals
an assembly of persons for the administration of justice
a ruling from the bench is expected any day now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of benches
Most congressmen unceremoniously scramble to duck behind their benches.
—
John Hopewell, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
The hike begins near the entrance to the park, where visitors will also find a pond, children’s play area and several benches and picnic tables.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2025
Kamara adds some pass-catching value and thus could be a possible low-end flex in PPR leagues, but, in general, this matchup warrants sending both Kamara and Miller to fantasy benches.
—Kc Joyner, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Inside the sauna, there are two long wooden benches that can accommodate two adults laying down, or up to eight adults sitting.
—Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
The point has places for photo ops, as well as nearby hiking trails and benches for picnic lunches.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
The judge gestured at Lindor to take a seat in one of the courtroom’s wooden pew benches.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 29 Sep. 2025
Despite the unintentional nature of the plunking, both benches were warned when Kemp began veering toward the mound after being hit.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
The way Laver Cup tells a story over a long weekend with events such as the iconic photo (this year with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop), black carpet and opening night gala and team benches gives tennis a distinct perspective.
—Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
John Hopewell, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
The hike begins near the entrance to the park, where visitors will also find a pond, children’s play area and several benches and picnic tables.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2025
Kamara adds some pass-catching value and thus could be a possible low-end flex in PPR leagues, but, in general, this matchup warrants sending both Kamara and Miller to fantasy benches.
—Kc Joyner, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Inside the sauna, there are two long wooden benches that can accommodate two adults laying down, or up to eight adults sitting.
—Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
The point has places for photo ops, as well as nearby hiking trails and benches for picnic lunches.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
The judge gestured at Lindor to take a seat in one of the courtroom’s wooden pew benches.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 29 Sep. 2025
Despite the unintentional nature of the plunking, both benches were warned when Kemp began veering toward the mound after being hit.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
The way Laver Cup tells a story over a long weekend with events such as the iconic photo (this year with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop), black carpet and opening night gala and team benches gives tennis a distinct perspective.
—Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benches
Noun
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The show tapes weekly in Los Angeles and features celebrity-pro dance pairings performing live for judges and viewers.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
-
At the end of the night, live viewer votes will be combined with the judges’ scores to determine who will be eliminated.—
Brianne Tracy,
PEOPLE,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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That panel included two former judges who had overseen international criminal tribunals, a former legal adviser to the British Foreign Office, and Amal Clooney, a British Lebanese human-rights lawyer and the wife of George Clooney.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
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Winding its way through tax tribunals and the county treasurer's office all the way to the Michigan Court of Appeals through a trail of unseen revocation notices, jurisdictional conflicts and behind-the-scenes bureaucratic handwringing, that eventually got worked out.—
Todd Spangler,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Stay tuned for more from today’s programming, like Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the CEOs of Best Buy, Land O’Lakes, and Ulta Beauty, how the courts are influencing American business, and much, much more.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
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Under a 2023 state law, California courts seal records for minors under 18 years of age who change their name and gender identifier to protect their privacy.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Benches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benches. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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