Thesaurus results for ARBITER

arbiter

noun

ˈär-bə-tər

Definition of arbiter

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Hip-hop tilted the pop axis at the turn of the millennium and remains an arbiter of its taste. — Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026 The report also said that a single person who was tapped as a neutral negotiator between LAWA and LINXS became a de facto arbiter of disputes around large money claims who instructed LAWA to pay $97 million to LINXS. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 The fact that the United States, in its recent conflict with Iran, directly destabilized international energy markets undermines the country’s claim to be a fair arbiter of the global commons. — Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026 For the science-fiction concepts underpinning that world, including gravity control, faster-than-light communication and cognitive materialization, Kamiyama worked with novelist Toh EnJoe, credited as SF setting supervisor, as an outside arbiter. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for arbiter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbiter

Noun

Rather than stepping in and asserting his authority, Mourinho has largely remained on the sidelines, more witness than referee.

— Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
A lot of them have to referee college basketball as well during their offseason.

— Sam Fragoso, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of referee

Noun

Plates and cake forks were distributed by a young waitress also borrowed from Lyons, from the Corner House on Coventry Street, who cut the cakes and handed round slices to the judges.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
Earlier this month, a federal judge in Boston had issued a preliminary injunction against USPS, blocking the mailing agency from imposing those new ballot requirements on states.

— Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of judge

Noun

Because Leonard and the NBA Players Association signed off on his repaying $700,000, there was no further process that would require an arbitrator.

— John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Texas law allows courts to reject an arbitration award when, for example, the process substantially prejudiced a party’s rights, involved fraud or arbitrator misconduct, or exceeded the arbitrator’s authority.

— Asma Uddin, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of arbitrator

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arable

arbiter

arbiters

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“Arbiter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbiter. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of arbiter

noun

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