1
2
as in courtyards
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls)
the art museum boasts a glass-sided court that is filled with an array of greenery and sculpture
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in tribunals
an assembly of persons for the administration of justice
this court is now called to order
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in judges
a public official having authority to decide questions of law
if it please the court, I'd like to approach the bench
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in woos
to act so as to make (something) more likely
you're courting disaster if you keep playing with matches
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in dates
to go on dates that may eventually lead to marriage
they courted for a year before getting married
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of courts
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
The charges were dropped in November after state courts removed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the case for having a romantic relationship with another prosecutor.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register.
—William Morris, Des Moines Register, 8 Jan. 2026
At Hodge Park, where the city recently installed pickleball courts, Willett said the energy code was applied to a shade structure over the benches, slowing down the project by several months.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
That ordinance, which pushed the November 2025 election to November 2026, faced scrutiny from residents and the courts.
—Tess Riski
january 8, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
Davis' arguments have already been rejected by lower courts.
—Jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Owners also have access to Ascaya’s lengthy roster of amenities, which includes a 23,000-square-foot clubhouse, a resort-style pool, fitness and yoga studios, tennis and pickleball courts, a family park, and scenic hiking trails.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025
Although some funds have been restored because of lawsuits, the Supreme Court has allowed other cuts by the administration to stand while the cases move through the courts.
—Amy Maxmen, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
Robert Lang, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
Fox News, which courts an older linear audience, has put new focus on its reach via YouTube, X, TikTok and Instagram, among other venues.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
Tennis, pickleball, and padel courts at the Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center continue the property’s long-standing connection to the sport, which stems from Key Biscayne hosting the Miami Open for three decades—until 2018—and becoming a destination for tennis pros.
—Verb
The ensemble cast includes Ellie Bamber as Eleanor’s sister, Beatrice, and Ed Suter as Edward’s loyal squire Richard, who courts Beatrice amid the escalating tragedy.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for courts
Noun
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The subway line will eventually run beneath Roman landmarks including Trajan's Column, the Basilica of Maxentius and the Vatican, in addition to Renaissance palaces.—
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Ski resorts are struggling to open runs, walk-through ice palaces can’t be built, and the owner of a horse stable hopes that her customers will be satisfied with riding wagons instead of sleighs under majestic Rocky Mountain peaks.—
Noun
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The 20 accommodations at this 2025 World's Best Award-winning hotel range from manor rooms and suites to freestanding villas, each individually designed and outfitted with high-end touches like soaking tubs, fireplaces, and, in select units, private courtyards or outdoor hot tubs.—
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And some of these businesses are located on the complex’s 50 square-like spaces the developers call courtyards.—
Noun
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The Nuremberg trials also helped to establish precedents used in later international criminal tribunals, including those in the wake of the Bosnian war and Rwandan genocide, and influenced the formation of the International Criminal Court, which began operating in 2002 in The Hague.—
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That panel included two former judges who had overseen international criminal tribunals, a former legal adviser to the British Foreign Office, and Amal Clooney, a British Lebanese human-rights lawyer and the wife of George Clooney.—
Noun
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Regardless of which party is calling for the impeachment of judges, the outcome is unlikely to result in a conviction by the Senate.—
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RuPaul’s Drag Race features mainstay judges RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews, and Ts Madison.—
Verb
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One video showing people tearing down a billboard image of Maduro dates as far back as July 2024.—
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An initial round of referendum money dates to 2018.—
Noun
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Cleanliness Turtles are messy animals and require consistent attention to the cleanliness of their enclosures.—
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Aerial surveys revealed that 509 houses were scattered on the outskirts of the town center, though the exact function of the enclosures remains to be determined.—
Noun
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The district judge declined her jurisdictional prerogatives, saying that the case was too serious to be settled in a magistrates’ court and must be heard by a Crown Court, which deals with the most severe criminal offenses.—
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The law includes a variety of provisions, including stricter bail rules for many violent offenses, a new protocol for judges and magistrates ordering mental health evaluations and funding for additional prosecutors in Mecklenburg County.—
Verb
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At a time when life can sometimes feel fragmented or uncertain, the Christmas season invites us to remember the power of reaching out to one another with generosity of heart, understanding and hope.—
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Everything comes to a head when Richard (Pablo Schreiber), Anna’s cameraman-slash-lover and Lexi’s husband (stay with me), invites her to stay at Lexi’s lake house when their hotel reservation is mysteriously canceled.—
Cite this Entry
“Courts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courts. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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