as in referees
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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Recent Examples of arbiters
That increases to more than $450,000 as arbiters accrue service time.
—
Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
The All England Club's decision to jettison line judges in favour of technology carries an air of inevitability as the world embraces AI but the human arbiters of the boundaries of the tennis court are hoping to continue playing a key role.
—Shrivathsa Sridhar, Reuters, 27 June 2025
The Academy Awards are not the final arbiters of taste, artistry or even cultural impact.
—Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025
Government lawyers aren’t the final arbiters on what’s legal.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025
However, a hard truth for Elon Musk to face may be that X users are largely incapable of discerning facts without relying on traditional fact-checking organizations that Musk disagrees should be the sole arbiters of truth online.
—Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2025
Government officials serve as important arbiters of political, economic, and social life.
—Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025
Investors are the ultimate arbiters of Washington’s fiscal health.
—Andrew Duehren, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
For over a century, a relative handful of daily newspapers, radio stations, and television networks attempted to play the role of neutral arbiters of truth for broad, ideologically diverse readerships.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
The All England Club's decision to jettison line judges in favour of technology carries an air of inevitability as the world embraces AI but the human arbiters of the boundaries of the tennis court are hoping to continue playing a key role.
—Shrivathsa Sridhar, Reuters, 27 June 2025
The Academy Awards are not the final arbiters of taste, artistry or even cultural impact.
—Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025
Government lawyers aren’t the final arbiters on what’s legal.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025
However, a hard truth for Elon Musk to face may be that X users are largely incapable of discerning facts without relying on traditional fact-checking organizations that Musk disagrees should be the sole arbiters of truth online.
—Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2025
Government officials serve as important arbiters of political, economic, and social life.
—Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025
Investors are the ultimate arbiters of Washington’s fiscal health.
—Andrew Duehren, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
For over a century, a relative handful of daily newspapers, radio stations, and television networks attempted to play the role of neutral arbiters of truth for broad, ideologically diverse readerships.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbiters
Noun
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No other referees intervene in this system and the on-pitch official will review every goal, regardless of whether they are asked.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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His fellow referees dressed as a fisherman, an admiral and a commander.—
M.L. Elrick,
Freep.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Most of the judges signed up in September are returning or experienced volunteers, Kieffer and Ealom said.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
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Despite ongoing lawsuits, federal judges have so far found the scientific evidence linking acetaminophen use in pregnancy to autism or ADHD to be inconclusive, leading to the dismissal of several high-profile cases.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Major League Baseball Rule 21 prohibits anyone connected to the game-including players, umpires, and staff-from gambling on any baseball or softball game, regardless of the level.—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Johnson grabbed the bat and gathered with the three other umpires in his crew.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arbiters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbiters. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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