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
Are the corporations that release the powerful technology the arbiters of their fate?
—
Jake Angelo, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Judges here run in partisan elections but are expected to be neutral arbiters on the bench.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 Feb. 2026
What explains the loss of poise and dignity among the traditional arbiters?
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Appoint a Book Club Editor in Chief I’m all for democracy, but there’s still a place for arbiters of taste.
—Lauren Mechling, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
The idea of them working together was born out of friendship, said Capaldo, adding that there are many parallels between the trajectories of the two brands, dressing and engaging with cultural arbiters of their respective times.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 17 Dec. 2025
Collectors long ago replaced curators and critics as arbiters of artistic value, and more people today will hear about the Klimt price than will ever see a Klimt in real life.
—Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 28 Nov. 2025
The writers are the definitive arbiters of what is being said.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
The arbiters of news were very connected to the people around them in a community.
—Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025
Jake Angelo, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Judges here run in partisan elections but are expected to be neutral arbiters on the bench.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 Feb. 2026
What explains the loss of poise and dignity among the traditional arbiters?
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Appoint a Book Club Editor in Chief I’m all for democracy, but there’s still a place for arbiters of taste.
—Lauren Mechling, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
The idea of them working together was born out of friendship, said Capaldo, adding that there are many parallels between the trajectories of the two brands, dressing and engaging with cultural arbiters of their respective times.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 17 Dec. 2025
Collectors long ago replaced curators and critics as arbiters of artistic value, and more people today will hear about the Klimt price than will ever see a Klimt in real life.
—Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 28 Nov. 2025
The writers are the definitive arbiters of what is being said.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
The arbiters of news were very connected to the people around them in a community.
—Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbiters
Noun
-
Decked in bold colors and never shy to dress down referees in a heated moment, Mulkey won national titles at Baylor in 2005, 2012 and 2019 at LSU in 2023.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Then Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek tried calling timeout to set up the team’s defense, but the referees apparently missed it.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Tobias said those decisions likely reflect judges sticking closely to the statute and reacting to how the administration has handled past appointments.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The reform proposes splitting it into three separate chambers and altering how members are chosen, replacing internal elections with selections by lottery from eligible judges and prosecutors.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Confusion ensued among the umpires.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Human umpires still make every call on the field.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arbiters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbiters. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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