as in umpire
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy
served as the unofficial referee in disputes over the family business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to decide
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)
their father usually ends up refereeing any disputes concerning use of the big TV
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of referee
Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 4 June 2026
Ewers also scrambled 12 yards for a rushing touchdown, but media members felt the pressure would have produced a sack on the play, which was ruled a touchdown by the referees on the field.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
ABC News, 4 May 2026
After the first free throw, Doncic walked over and spoke to referee Sean Corbin.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for referee
Noun
That trains the basketball player, ‘Oh, the referee is gonna have a loose whistle.
—Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 4 June 2026
Ewers also scrambled 12 yards for a rushing touchdown, but media members felt the pressure would have produced a sack on the play, which was ruled a touchdown by the referees on the field.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Verb
Rosetti plans to meet soon with refereeing officials from Europe’s main leagues to seek more clarity and consistency next season.
—ABC News, 4 May 2026
After the first free throw, Doncic walked over and spoke to referee Sean Corbin.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for referee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referee
Noun
-
An 18-year-old umpire who went viral for his energetic calls and coverage at Little League games made his Savannah Bananas debut last Friday, calling it a dream come true.—
Yi-Jin Yu,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
-
Instead, second base umpire Nic Lentz ruled Clement safe at second, saying that Clement was getting out of the way for Henderson to field the ball instead of trying to avoid the tag.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Thai diver Kengkard Bongkawong told CNN that while the goal is still to rescue the group, an upcoming meeting will decide whether the team should first work together to evacuate them or if the rescuers should split into two groups, with one continuing the search for those unaccounted for.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Hulst and Toomey decided to withdraw from the mile at the State meet.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Cushing, who was 26 at the time, then turned himself in after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
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The request was granted three months later by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge, according to a filing reviewed by USA TODAY.—
Liza Esquibias,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Serpell revels in all of the complications and contradictions of Toni Morrison, treating her subject with both reverence and even some skepticism and never settling for the easy conclusion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The package sets aside $875 million, including roughly $310 million from the state and $565 million in federal funding, to settle the issue.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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But despite securing a conviction, investigators spent decades trying to determine the identity of the teenage victim.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
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Residents and festivalgoers were urged to avoid the area and expect a significant law enforcement presence as officers continue their search and investigators work to determine what led to the shooting.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
Verb
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That will just leave a small number of irregular ballots left to be adjudicated.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
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Industry professionals adjudicated 12 Northwest Arkansas high school theater programs that produced full-length musicals.—
Eric E. Harrison,
Arkansas Online,
6 June 2026
Verb
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In response to the lawsuit, the NFL and teams sought to compel arbitration based on the coaches' employment contracts and a provision of the NFL Constitution that gives the NFL commissioner, Goodell, authority to arbitrate disputes between coaches and member clubs.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
26 May 2026
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Their contracts require them to confidentially arbitrate with the commissioner (or his designee) as the arbitrator.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Referee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referee. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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