sentence 1 of 2

noun

ˈsen-tᵊn(t)s How to pronounce sentence (audio)
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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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
Capone, in a green suit, reportedly smiled, perhaps not yet realizing those counts carried a maximum sentence of 17 years. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Oct. 2026 Among the 13 deaths police identified was Karen Walker, 61, who died at a Turtle Cove Drive house in Mansfield after a handwritten one-sentence will left her entire estate to Becquer, according to Star-Telegram reporting on the search warrants. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
She was convicted on multiple counts of fraud in 2022 and sentenced to 135 months, or more than 11 years, in prison. — Dorie Clark, Contributor, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 Sierra, Banasco said, would have to work a job at the prison if he were sentenced to life. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sentence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sentence
  1. ruling
  2. condemn
  3. verdict
  4. punish
  5. doom
Noun
  • Get timely insight into the cases, rulings, and constitutional questions defining America’s legal landscape.
    — Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Kalshi has filed rehearing petitions asking the Sixth and Ninth Circuits to review their latest rulings, citing the forthcoming CFTC rules.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruling
Verb
  • The brazen, unmasked calls to erase Israel triggered fierce bipartisan backlash from lawmakers condemning the rising wave of open extremism.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • State election groups condemned the mailings, saying staff should not fear for their safety.
    — Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of condemn
Noun
  • But Borchetta says the impact of the lawsuits can be bigger than any verdict.
    — Philip Wang, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The verdict followed a six-day trial in Placer Superior Court.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of verdict
Verb
  • At the root of the crisis is inadequate laws to punish offenders and a poor judicial system, activists say.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Yeah, this is my PhD work, focused on the ways in which soybeans, so legumes, are able to discriminate and actually punish.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of punish
Verb
  • Some economists argued that government attempts to intervene in the economy were doomed to fail.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Efforts to institute regulations at an international level are often doomed to fail, typically because of geopolitical and economic competition.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of doom

Browse Nearby Words

sent (away)
sentence
sentenced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sentence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sentence. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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