1
as in judge
a public official having authority to decide questions of law
appealed to the bench for leniency
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2
as in tribunal
an assembly of persons for the administration of justice
a ruling from the bench is expected any day now
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bench
But despite the Giants’ bench being stocked entirely with righties — including Jerar Encarnacion, who can ostensibly play the corner outfield in a pinch — Vitello sat on his hands and watched Lee strike out on three pitches.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
In many ways, that has opened her up to have her best scoring and shooting season ever and one of the few bench players in the nation to be a legitimate 2026 WNBA draft prospect.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
That’s until the New Jersey Devils ripped the joy out of the road team’s bench with two goals in 19 seconds, leaving the Hawks wondering what went wrong.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
UConn’s 19-point comeback was complete as the Huskies’ bench jumped in jubilation.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bench
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
In many ways, that has opened her up to have her best scoring and shooting season ever and one of the few bench players in the nation to be a legitimate 2026 WNBA draft prospect.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
That’s until the New Jersey Devils ripped the joy out of the road team’s bench with two goals in 19 seconds, leaving the Hawks wondering what went wrong.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
UConn’s 19-point comeback was complete as the Huskies’ bench jumped in jubilation.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bench
Noun
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Trever Nehls was also defeated in a 2022 race for Fort Bend County judge by three percentage points.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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When the populist demagogue Willie Stark orders Burden, journalist turned gumshoe, to dig up dirt on a local judge, Burden demurs; certainly there are no skeletons in the office of the good judge.—
Brenda Wineapple,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The law is set to take effect in 30 days but its implementation could be delayed by pending court proceedings at Israel’s highest tribunal.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
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The law is not retroactive and will not apply to October 7 suspects, though a separate bill could still establish a special tribunal with capital punishment for those cases.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Rockets outscored the Knicks by 28 in Durant’s 35 minutes on the court.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
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The annual award recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to team.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bench. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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