1
as in referees
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
2
as in courts
a public official having authority to decide questions of law
the judge gave the defendant a suspended sentence
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in decides
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)
the committee will judge the case solely on the evidence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in estimates
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
3
as in derives
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
4
as in thinks
to have as an opinion
I judge that he knew what kind of woman she was when he married her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 judges
Steve Pickett, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Noem’s minions would defy and frustrate federal judges seeking basic information from DHS about the department’s compliance with court orders.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
There’s no cameras in a holding room, this is while the judges are deliberating.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2026
Federal district judges have overwhelmingly agreed with them.
—Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
The Justice Department told a federal appeals court that judges who blocked executive orders sanctioning several law firms had infringed on the president’s authority.
—Mark Berman, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2026
In 2023, after a push by Newsom, the state launched a program known as CARE Court that enables judges to mandate mental health treatment plans if people don’t voluntarily agree.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
The motion to disqualify Robinson, at this point an allegation, touches upon one of the defining characteristics of the Supreme Court — that discussions among judges when deliberating over decisions are confidential.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Last year, four different judges blocked the orders, which limited access to federal buildings, suspended security clearances and forced government contractors to disclose their work with the firms.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 2 Mar. 2026
But Herzog never judges or condescends to Treadwell, even if his involvement in documenting the fallout becomes increasingly complicated.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
Alongside him, judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie will return for their second year as a trio.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
His component score, which judges a skater’s composition, presentation and skating skills each up to 10 points, also was higher than every other competitor.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
The Five Principles Survey, which is conducted roughly every six months, judges the Tottenham ownership against five tests which THST agreed with the board of the club itself.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Portnoy travels to cities around the world and judges their pizza scene by taking a single bite (or more) of a cheese pizza and giving it a review.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
The winner was chosen by an independent panel, which each year judges the entries on artistic achievement.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
Joining judges Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough this week is former dancing pro Kym Johnson.
—Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
Givens filed a court petition to issue a temporary restraining order against Dallas County commissioners from rewarding judges with a collective $500,000 in supplemental pay because the payment plan excludes her.
—Steve Pickett, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Noem’s minions would defy and frustrate federal judges seeking basic information from DHS about the department’s compliance with court orders.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
There’s no cameras in a holding room, this is while the judges are deliberating.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2026
Federal district judges have overwhelmingly agreed with them.
—Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
The Justice Department told a federal appeals court that judges who blocked executive orders sanctioning several law firms had infringed on the president’s authority.
—Mark Berman, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2026
In 2023, after a push by Newsom, the state launched a program known as CARE Court that enables judges to mandate mental health treatment plans if people don’t voluntarily agree.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
The motion to disqualify Robinson, at this point an allegation, touches upon one of the defining characteristics of the Supreme Court — that discussions among judges when deliberating over decisions are confidential.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Last year, four different judges blocked the orders, which limited access to federal buildings, suspended security clearances and forced government contractors to disclose their work with the firms.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
When smearing peanut butter on bread, the robot watches the knife deflect down and crush the bread and judges forces from that.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 2 Mar. 2026
But Herzog never judges or condescends to Treadwell, even if his involvement in documenting the fallout becomes increasingly complicated.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
Alongside him, judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie will return for their second year as a trio.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
His component score, which judges a skater’s composition, presentation and skating skills each up to 10 points, also was higher than every other competitor.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
The Five Principles Survey, which is conducted roughly every six months, judges the Tottenham ownership against five tests which THST agreed with the board of the club itself.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Portnoy travels to cities around the world and judges their pizza scene by taking a single bite (or more) of a cheese pizza and giving it a review.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
The winner was chosen by an independent panel, which each year judges the entries on artistic achievement.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
Joining judges Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough this week is former dancing pro Kym Johnson.
—Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for judges
Noun
-
The referees quickly flagged it for goaltending, and with it, Hall set the program record for most points in a season by a freshman.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Sitting at his locker with his elbow wrapped in ice, James expressed frustration with referees not calling a foul on the play that led to his injury.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Morley also noted that any constitutional dispute tied to the elections clause could ultimately reach the Supreme Court after review by the Virginia courts.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The estate via the combative Branca, who is portrayed by Miles Teller in the heavily authorized (to put it very, very politely) Michael, has fought back in the courts against Paris Jackson’s actions.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If another team decides to make that offer, don’t expect the Cowboys to panic and reset their offer.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Greg decides to shake off the monotony of his life by taking a position as Writer in Residence at the prestigious (fictional) Ludlow College.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If a similar result happens from the work requirements, that would mean 236,000 to 347,000 expansion adults losing coverage by 2034 based on how large the Congressional Budget Office estimates the population will be that year, estimates Hoosier Action.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The government estimates that it's collected some $166 billion from more than 330,000 businesses in tariffs that the Supreme Court has now found unconstitutional.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Shellac derives from the resinous material secreted by the lac bug, much like honey comes from a bee.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Iran derives its power from an effective intelligence service that exploits the weakness of its neighbors, a ballistic missile program that holds every country in the region at risk and a network of militia proxies.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Harrell thinks the courts could be deferential to the White House in that respect, but that increasing the duty to 15 percent could invite greater legal scrutiny and make the argument more wobbly.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Mar. 2026
-
For anyone who thinks DERM focuses on saving trees and bees alone to the exclusion of growth, Hefty has a different conclusion.—
Jenny Staletovich,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The second and third outs were called third strikes, both of them initially balls before All-Star catcher Realmuto challenged through the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), or so called robot umpires, that will be used in the regular season for the first time this year.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Junior umpires officiate games from Shetland through Bronco divisions, with adult umpires primarily covering Pony games.—
Stephanie Ogilvie,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The other half is being written in the seminaries of Qom and the offices of the Guardian Council, where senior jurists are quietly running their own calculations about risk and reward.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
-
But some international jurists imagine international public law as a force that can and should evolve, apart from and even independent of governments.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Judges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/judges. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
