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
Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
The courts themselves have lost judges through departures and firings — nine have left the Chicago court since the beginning of last year.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
The Justice Department wants to oversee the discipline of its attorneys — even as government lawyers face more questions from judges and watchdogs about their conduct.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026
If this decision is upheld on appeal, every city in the Ninth Circuit will be sued for clearing encampments and federal judges will be managing homelessness policy rat by rat.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Rap lyrics have featured in hundreds of court cases in more than 40 states over the past 50 years, though judges often exclude other forms of creative expression from being used as evidence, researchers have found.
—Maria Sherman, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
On Tuesday, appeals judges rejected a request from Duterte’s legal team to throw out the case on the grounds that the court did not have jurisdiction because of the Philippine withdrawal.
—CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
In the majority opinion in this week’s ruling, the appellate judges noted that the tent detention camp was built at the state’s expense.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
These cases will come before dozens of federal judges, creating opportunities for multiple courts to rule against the policy.
—Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
But immigration judges have denied Juan bond multiple times, according to court documents.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
The courts themselves have lost judges through departures and firings — nine have left the Chicago court since the beginning of last year.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
The Justice Department wants to oversee the discipline of its attorneys — even as government lawyers face more questions from judges and watchdogs about their conduct.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026
If this decision is upheld on appeal, every city in the Ninth Circuit will be sued for clearing encampments and federal judges will be managing homelessness policy rat by rat.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Rap lyrics have featured in hundreds of court cases in more than 40 states over the past 50 years, though judges often exclude other forms of creative expression from being used as evidence, researchers have found.
—Maria Sherman, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
On Tuesday, appeals judges rejected a request from Duterte’s legal team to throw out the case on the grounds that the court did not have jurisdiction because of the Philippine withdrawal.
—CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
In the majority opinion in this week’s ruling, the appellate judges noted that the tent detention camp was built at the state’s expense.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
These cases will come before dozens of federal judges, creating opportunities for multiple courts to rule against the policy.
—Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
American Idol judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan reacted to Seacrest’s on-air announcement with a mix of shock and confusion.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for judges
Noun
-
Red cards would also be given to players who leave the field because of issues with referees' rulings, the board said in a second rule change.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The game in Italy is still haunted by Calciopoli, the crisis two decades ago that, among other things, shone an unflattering light on the power and influence behind the appointment of referees in Serie A.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And his future, a raging battle between the state courts and the NCAA, will be a bellwether for all college sports.—
Bomani Jones,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
-
This extension of Josh's sentence comes at the same time that his fourth, and final, appeal of his 2021 conviction is working its way through the courts.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Whatever the team decides, Lomu sounds happy to oblige.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
If two of the richest companies in the world are racing to control the sky, who decides how that access is priced and delivered?—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Congressional Budget Office estimates a nearly $300 billion shortfall in the HTF over the next 10 years, with the fund becoming insolvent starting in 2028.—
Andrew Stasiowski,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Hochul estimates that about 13,000 non-primary homes in New York City valued at $5 million or more will be subject to the tax.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The name Business Wire likely derives from the terms news wires or wire services, which recall the mid-19th-century method of dispatching news via telegraph, sending electrical signals via wire across great distances.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Destined to delight Herzog fans for its offbeat ruminations on the evolution of creativity, the movie also derives ample philosophical weight from the sheer beauty and inherent mystery of the subject at hand.—
Eric Kohn,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One thinks of the citizens of Buffy’s Sunnydale, blithely going about their business, not moving away despite being located on a Hellmouth.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
But Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG, thinks the Fed should formally change its policy stance.—
Steve Liesman,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Gilbert argued that none of the three umpires made the out signal on the ball hit to left.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Two umpires from the Japanese Table Tennis Association judged the games.—
Matt O’Brien,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ripe for abuse This judicial resignation-gubernatorial appointment two-step is not unusual, said Jewett, who added that jurists have been debating the timing of when governors should fill court vacancies for the last 25 years — particularly because the practice is ripe for abuse.—
Norine Dworkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Federalist Society and its liberal cousin, the American Constitution Society, serve as guardians of the separate ecosystems in which the jurists live, socialize, and build their reputations.—
Peter S. Canellos,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Judges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/judges. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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