as in referee
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy the dean of student affairs is the proper arbiter when a student disputes a grade

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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 arbiter Eason appealed his firing, which was reviewed by an independent arbiter under the terms of his union’s contract with the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Rafael Olmeda, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025 Carr, who apparently reacted to Kimmel's suspension last week by sending a GIF of TV characters doing a celebratory dance to a journalist, yesterday described his role at the FCC as that of a dispassionate arbiter. Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025 And right-wing politicians who accuse pro-Palestinian students of antisemitism are hardly credible arbiters. Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025 Washington has the capacity to end Moscow’s claim to be the region’s arbiter—an instrument the Russians have used for years to try to exert control over both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Thomas De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for arbiter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbiter
Noun
  • That’s been done either by having referees call phantom penalties on Chiefs opponents or not flagging Kansas City players.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
  • No penalty was called and Rust, who rarely shows any emotion in the direction of officials, merely sat on the ice for a moment staring down the referee.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The complaint asked the judge to order officials to reinstate the removed books and to bar Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and DoDEA Director Beth Schiavino-Narvaez from ordering further removals from school libraries and curriculum.
    BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The latest federal judge has allowed troops from Texas to remain in Illinois, but said they can't be deployed in Chicago.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Padres were eliminated from the playoffs in the Wild Card round, and because of Wrigley Field's century-old accommodations, the umpire crew was forced to exit the game through the visitors' dugout immediately after San Diego's season had come to a screeching halt.
    Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
  • From his vantage point in the dugout Tuesday, Chisholm thought Judge’s home run was going to fly over the foul pole and the umpires were going to make the wrong call.
    Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Chris Cuomo can’t revive his bid to disqualify the arbitrator overseeing his $125 million claim against CNN, a New York appeals court has ruled.
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2025
  • While an arbitrator issues a binding decision, a mediator issues a recommendation that, by itself, does not compel any action from the parties.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Arbiter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbiter. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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