sentence 1 of 2

Definition of sentencenext
as in ruling
a decision made by a court or tribunal regarding a case it has heard he received a light sentence because it was his first offense and he was an otherwise upstanding citizen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

sentence

2 of 2

verb

as in to condemn
to impose a judicial punishment on the judge sentenced him to a fine of $50 and time served

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 sentence
Noun
Epstein pleaded guilty instead to a state charge of soliciting prostitution from someone under age 18 and got an 18-month jail sentence. Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026 Balidemaj now faces a maximum sentence of 60 years behind bars for the killing, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
She was sentenced to three years’ probation, fined $160,000, and ordered to complete 500 hours of community service. Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026 According to the court, he was sentenced to life in prison in absentia. Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentence
Noun
  • The ruling against Kim was made about three weeks before the court delivers its verdict on a rebellion charge against Yoon.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Both prosecutors and Kim’s team can appeal the ruling.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • He was condemned for the April 1998 shooting deaths of his ex-girlfriend, Glenda Dennise Hayslip, 39, and her new boyfriend, Darren Keith Cain, 30, at the woman's suburban Houston apartment.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Charles Victor Thompson was condemned for the April 1998 shooting deaths of his ex-girlfriend, Glenda Dennise Hayslip, 39, and her new boyfriend, Darren Keith Cain, 30, at her apartment in the Houston suburb of Tomball.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The ruling against Kim was made about three weeks before the court delivers its verdict on a rebellion charge against Yoon.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
  • On the fourth day of deliberations on June 18, the jury finally reached a verdict and acquitted her of the murder charges.
    Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Business owners spoke in opposition to the proposal, telling commissioners that the ordinance would not solve crime in low-income neighborhoods, but instead punish businesses that have been around for years.
    Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Powell in an unusually blunt video statement said the subpoenas were a pretext to punish the Fed for not cutting rates more quickly.
    Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • For here was a gay man doomed by his failure to recognize that the courtroom was a different kind of stage, one where flamboyant insouciance would bring disaster rather than applause.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
  • But those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sentence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentence. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on sentence

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!