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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

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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

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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
In May 2012, Rebecca and Christopher offered negotiated guilty pleas during their sentence hearing, according to The Augusta Chronicle. Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026 Today, Smith received a 20-year sentence to be served without any chance of early release and without any parole. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2026
Verb
The boy’s mother, Deja Taylor, pleaded guilty to a state charge of felony child neglect and was sentenced to two years in prison in 2023, as well as a 21-month sentence on related federal charges. Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 18 May 2026 In November, a Sanaa court convicted 17 people of spying for foreign governments and sentenced them to death. ABC News, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentence
Noun
  • The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the judge's ruling.
    Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 20 May 2026
  • The Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling requiring the government to process claims from people who reach a port of entry.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 20 May 2026
Verb
  • But there is a difference between his expression of unflinching conservatism, on the bench and off, and his willingness, even his zeal, to condemn an entire political movement, one with more than historical interest.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
  • Both Turkey and Greece also condemned the activists’ treatment.
    Natalie Melzer, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
Noun
  • Andy Gall today and as a rookie patrolman For Gall, who was just a rookie that September day in 1979, the verdict closed a very big circle.
    Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 14 May 2026
  • Becky Hill reads Alex Murdaugh 2023 guilty verdict In 2023, Murdaugh was convicted of gunning down his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at the family’s hunting estate in 2021.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Now, with rates above 5% on home equity products and above 20% on revolving credit card balances, the carrying cost of that debt has become punishing.
    Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
  • The guilty will be punished in proportion to their offences by the Aunts here on earth and then go on to burn in hell for the rest of eternity, God willing.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 20 May 2026
Verb
  • Irwin, at first, looks like the protagonist of the film, a naive man who has faith in hard work and straight shooting and providing a better life for his kids, and who seems doomed to be pushed into terrible things.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 17 May 2026
  • What’s doomed the Rays in recent years has been injuries, particularly to their starting pitchers — five top Rays starters had Tommy John surgery since 2020 and two of their current starters, Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen have had multiple TJ surgeries.
    Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sentence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentence. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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