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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 arbiters
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
And right-wing politicians who accuse pro-Palestinian students of antisemitism are hardly credible arbiters.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
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
And right-wing politicians who accuse pro-Palestinian students of antisemitism are hardly credible arbiters.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbiters
Noun
-
Two referees, multiple teammates and staff members quickly worked to separate the women and a referee was knocked to the ground in the melee.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Is there a solution to referees work schedules?—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Givens filed a court petition to issue a temporary restraining order against Dallas County commissioners from rewarding judges with a collective $500,000 in supplemental pay because the payment plan excludes her.—
Steve Pickett,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Noem’s minions would defy and frustrate federal judges seeking basic information from DHS about the department’s compliance with court orders.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The second and third outs were called third strikes, both of them initially balls before All-Star catcher Realmuto challenged through the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), or so called robot umpires, that will be used in the regular season for the first time this year.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Junior umpires officiate games from Shetland through Bronco divisions, with adult umpires primarily covering Pony games.—
Stephanie Ogilvie,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arbiters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbiters. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
