as in referees
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy
the couple finally agreed to let the salesclerk be the final arbitrator and tell them which shirt looked best
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Recent Examples of arbitrators
Over the course of a single day, multiple cases unfold as claimants and defendants face off with the support of barristers and independent arbitrators.
—
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Feb. 2026
In 46% of those cases, arbitrators ordered police agencies to rehire officers who had been fired.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
Foreign investors view the involvement of independent arbitrators as crucial to guard against future expropriation.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Skubal’s salary was decided by a three-person panel of independent arbitrators after a Wednesday hearing in Arizona.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
After the teams exchange salary figures, a hearing is held before a panel of arbitrators.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2026
Ryan’s 2026 salary will likely be settled by a panel by arbitrators in the coming weeks.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
The player and club will then go to a hearing and make their case before a panel of arbitrators, who will choose either the player’s figure or the team’s figure, but nothing in between.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
Those will go to a panel of five arbitrators appointed by the council.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Feb. 2026
In 46% of those cases, arbitrators ordered police agencies to rehire officers who had been fired.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
Foreign investors view the involvement of independent arbitrators as crucial to guard against future expropriation.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Skubal’s salary was decided by a three-person panel of independent arbitrators after a Wednesday hearing in Arizona.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
After the teams exchange salary figures, a hearing is held before a panel of arbitrators.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2026
Ryan’s 2026 salary will likely be settled by a panel by arbitrators in the coming weeks.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
The player and club will then go to a hearing and make their case before a panel of arbitrators, who will choose either the player’s figure or the team’s figure, but nothing in between.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
Those will go to a panel of five arbitrators appointed by the council.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbitrators
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
“Arbitrators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbitrators. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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