1
as in judges
a public official having authority to decide questions of law
appealed to the bench for leniency
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Surfaces, like mudroom benches and floors, should be durable to contend with heavy traffic.
—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
4 July 2026
The exchange escalated quickly, with both benches and bullpens emptying.
—
Jon Root Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
3 July 2026
The sofa benches pull out into the center to meet and the backrests drop flat.
—
New Atlas,
3 July 2026
Meanwhile, thousands of people slept on benches, fire escapes, and parks across the city, especially in Potomac Park, just south of the National Mall.
—
Hana Kiros,
The Atlantic,
3 July 2026
The plane had two seats in the cockpit and two benches in the cabin for the skydivers, the NTSB said.
—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
2 July 2026
That means asphalt and metal benches could cause burns on bare skin, and cars left in the sun will reach potentially fatal temperatures, experts say.
—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
2 July 2026
Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras was ejected last night after a confrontation with Nationals starter Cade Cavalli that led to benches clearing.
—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
The ambitious plan calls for widening the sidewalks, reducing traffic lanes to three from the current five, adding trees, planters, benches, improved lighting and infrastructure to reduce the impact of storms, and possibly adding more vehicle-free weekends.
—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
4 July 2026
The exchange escalated quickly, with both benches and bullpens emptying.
—
Jon Root Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
3 July 2026
The sofa benches pull out into the center to meet and the backrests drop flat.
—
New Atlas,
3 July 2026
Meanwhile, thousands of people slept on benches, fire escapes, and parks across the city, especially in Potomac Park, just south of the National Mall.
—
Hana Kiros,
The Atlantic,
3 July 2026
The plane had two seats in the cockpit and two benches in the cabin for the skydivers, the NTSB said.
—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
2 July 2026
That means asphalt and metal benches could cause burns on bare skin, and cars left in the sun will reach potentially fatal temperatures, experts say.
—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
2 July 2026
Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras was ejected last night after a confrontation with Nationals starter Cade Cavalli that led to benches clearing.
—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
The ambitious plan calls for widening the sidewalks, reducing traffic lanes to three from the current five, adding trees, planters, benches, improved lighting and infrastructure to reduce the impact of storms, and possibly adding more vehicle-free weekends.
—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benches
Noun
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In at least four cases, judges have granted summary judgment in favor of Abbott — ruling for the company before the lawsuits reached trial.
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By the early twentieth century, lawyers and judges considered natural law to be irrelevant to the legal system, and the language all but disappeared from legal arguments and decisions.
Noun
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In 1996, the United Nations selected her as chief prosecutor of the international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.
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Located just 2 miles away from the former insurance building that housed the residual mechanism, the ICC was set up as a permanent, global court to prosecute humanity’s worst crimes and forestall the need to create ad hoc tribunals for every conflict.
Noun
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Assembly Bill 46, carried by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, D-Elk Grove, removes a legal standard that restricted courts’ ability to deny diversion.
-
Walton had found his calling in the courts and lawyers, then as now, often dabbled in politics.
Cite this Entry
“Benches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benches. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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