1
as in referee
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy
since they seemed to be in a hopeless stalemate, both labor and management agreed to use an independent adjudicator to decide the terms of the contract
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in judge
a public official having authority to decide questions of law
the appellate court refused to hear the case, thus allowing the judgment of previous adjudicators to stand
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Recent Examples of adjudicator
Michael Empric, a Guinness World Records adjudicator, said rules require all food used in record attempts to be eaten or donated.
—
Tassanee Vejpongsa, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
Michael Empric, a Guinness World Records adjudicator, said rules require all food used in record attempts to be eaten or donated.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
The Record-Breaking Moment The official attempt took place on the Italian TV show Lo Show Dei Record in Milan, with Guinness World Records adjudicator Sofia Greenacre overseeing the proceedings.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026
The department disputes that, saying judges are independent adjudicators who decide cases individually.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Thomas Bradford is one of 81 adjudicators the company employs across six continents.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Lahoud said the adjudicators follow a flowchart — and if the applicant meets the minimum criteria, the person can expect an approval notice to arrive within days.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
In a video tour of his collection with a Guinness adjudicator, Kardinal shared some of the stories behind his snow globes, which are lined up on shelves filling multiple rooms of the basement of his home.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
Decker, in another YouTube video, set the record for the most pizza restaurants visited in New York City in 24 hours, with a Guinness World Records adjudicator at his side.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 25 Nov. 2025
Tassanee Vejpongsa, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
Michael Empric, a Guinness World Records adjudicator, said rules require all food used in record attempts to be eaten or donated.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
The Record-Breaking Moment The official attempt took place on the Italian TV show Lo Show Dei Record in Milan, with Guinness World Records adjudicator Sofia Greenacre overseeing the proceedings.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026
The department disputes that, saying judges are independent adjudicators who decide cases individually.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Thomas Bradford is one of 81 adjudicators the company employs across six continents.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Lahoud said the adjudicators follow a flowchart — and if the applicant meets the minimum criteria, the person can expect an approval notice to arrive within days.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
In a video tour of his collection with a Guinness adjudicator, Kardinal shared some of the stories behind his snow globes, which are lined up on shelves filling multiple rooms of the basement of his home.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
Decker, in another YouTube video, set the record for the most pizza restaurants visited in New York City in 24 hours, with a Guinness World Records adjudicator at his side.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 25 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adjudicator
Noun
-
The 42-year-old Swanson overmatched Landwehr with a bevy of punches to the head before referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the fight with 54 seconds left in the opening round.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The 42-year-old Swanson overmatched Landwehr with a bevy of punches to the head before referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the fight with 54 seconds left in the opening round.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The pretrial testimony came as Robinson’s attorneys pressed a Utah judge to ban cameras from his case.—
Matthew Brown,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
-
The judge was furious, setting Baldwin free.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
First-base umpire Laz Diaz was attacked by 24-year-old Eric Dybas of Bolingbrook, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months in jail and 30 months’ probation.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Like an umpire in football who calls a holding penalty, the only time anyone notices a starter in track is when there’s a false start.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Multi-faceted bill Among other things, the bill creates a new, private right of action that would allow citizens to file civil lawsuits against ICE agents in court.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The entire Heat bench went out to check on their center, who then was helped off the court and into the locker room alongside Heat physician Harlan Selesnick.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adjudicator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adjudicator. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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