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
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Recent Examples of judges
Will Swaim, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
When such criminal cases are dismissed, judges can consider whether the defendant should be ordered into involuntary mental health treatment.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
By Friday, judges had served him loss after loss, each finding the administration had taken executive authority too far, too fast.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
The judges will select 25 moms from entries people submit about why their mothers deserve to be a Superhero Mom honoree, according to a news release.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
In Indianapolis, O’Neal impressed the judges and the fans with an array of dunks, including reverse efforts.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
For the 2-K jingle competition, a panel of judges, including Cardi B, will review submissions, before voting opens up to the general public, according to a news release.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
The foundation’s judges and awards subcommittee members – the latter a volunteer group of industry professionals, academics, writers and reviewers that changes every year – also search on their own.
—Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
As the years went by, judges complained that the city’s in-house lawyers had fumbled key casework.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
The program, which launched last month, gave half a dozen Los Angeles County civil court judges access to AI software called Learned Hand.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
With that in mind, here are the top 10 starters with at least 100 pitches thrown this spring so far, ranked by Stuff+, which judges pitches by their physical qualities alone.
—Eno Sarris, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
On Monday, Ninth Circuit judges Holly Thomas, Anthony Johnstone, and Joan Lefkow held an oral argument.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Mar. 2026
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
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
Noun
Every statewide officeholder and most state judges, including those on the state supreme court, are Democrats.
—Will Swaim, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
When such criminal cases are dismissed, judges can consider whether the defendant should be ordered into involuntary mental health treatment.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
By Friday, judges had served him loss after loss, each finding the administration had taken executive authority too far, too fast.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
The judges will select 25 moms from entries people submit about why their mothers deserve to be a Superhero Mom honoree, according to a news release.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
In Indianapolis, O’Neal impressed the judges and the fans with an array of dunks, including reverse efforts.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
For the 2-K jingle competition, a panel of judges, including Cardi B, will review submissions, before voting opens up to the general public, according to a news release.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
The foundation’s judges and awards subcommittee members – the latter a volunteer group of industry professionals, academics, writers and reviewers that changes every year – also search on their own.
—Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
As the years went by, judges complained that the city’s in-house lawyers had fumbled key casework.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
In episode three, Mary judges Eleanor pretty harshly for her choices with Robert.
—Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
The program, which launched last month, gave half a dozen Los Angeles County civil court judges access to AI software called Learned Hand.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
With that in mind, here are the top 10 starters with at least 100 pitches thrown this spring so far, ranked by Stuff+, which judges pitches by their physical qualities alone.
—Eno Sarris, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
On Monday, Ninth Circuit judges Holly Thomas, Anthony Johnstone, and Joan Lefkow held an oral argument.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Mar. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for judges
Noun
-
So everything looks like a real game, just without terrible rec league referees.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Wembanyama had tripped over his shoelace, the referees determined.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For associations, unit owners will know what to expect in actions seeking to remove a director, and courts could become more involved in governance disputes involving dysfunctional boards, developer transitions, or allegations of financial mismanagement.—
Evonne Andris,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Ann McColl, a constitutional scholar and former general counsel for the North Carolina Association of Educators, suggested the issues Leandro addressed may be in North Carolina courts again.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What Santa Clara County decides in the coming months will not stay within our borders.—
Maria Noel Fernandez,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Set in New Jersey, the story follows an ethnically and religiously confusing family fronted by hardware store owner Linda (Laurie Metcalf), who decides after the death of her mother to run for mayor of their midsized town.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Epstein estimates that the land technology business will grow 30% in 2026 as demand for replenishing munitions grows.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Marc Lotenberg, the founder and chief executive of Dorsia, a members-only platform for exclusive restaurant reservations, estimates brands can spend up to tens of millions of dollars at Coachella.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Whereas calico derives from a city’s name, chintz derives from the nature of the fabric’s decoration.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Tucked deeper into nature than its older sibling in Windham, Eastwind Oliverea Valley derives its special sauce from its harmony with its surroundings, complementing rather than taking away from the landscape.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At least, Fowler, who’s covered every season since the franchise’s inception, thinks so.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Robin thinks the lopsided representation likely has something to do with genetic differences between people of different racial groups — specifically in genes for athletic or intellectual abilities.—
Megan Molteni,
STAT,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Perhaps pitchers and umpires are simply adjusting to the new technology, and by midsummer any early kinks will be forgotten.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
So why do it that way instead of how umpires have historically constructed their zones?—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The president has repeatedly attacked federal judges and Supreme Court justices who have ruled against his policies, at times singling out individual jurists by name and questioning their motives or legitimacy.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Where Judge Hartig’s misconduct case stands The hearing wrapped up after weeks of testimony, including from the judge herself, fellow jurists and three neuropsychologists.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Judges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/judges. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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