as in umpire
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy
served as the unofficial referee in disputes over the family business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to decide
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)
their father usually ends up refereeing any disputes concerning use of the big TV
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of referee
Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Gordon said referees never gave him an explanation.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
His refereeing prowess gets him a ticket to ref a big match in Plano against Plano South, where the Arlen mayor will be in attendance.
—Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for referee
Noun
The Hoosiers quarterback connected with Becker on a slant in the end zone for a touchdown, but the referees blew the play dead because Penn State got a timeout at the last second.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Gordon said referees never gave him an explanation.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
Amid the debate and fury surrounding refereeing standards in La Liga, accusations of bias are commonplace.
—Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
His refereeing prowess gets him a ticket to ref a big match in Plano against Plano South, where the Arlen mayor will be in attendance.
—Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for referee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referee
Noun
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The game will feature the Poway Padres playing alongside members of the Poway Sheriff’s Station and the Poway Fire Department, with Mayor Steve Vaus and Poway City Council members serving as umpires.—
Pomerado News,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
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For the contemporary era, there are two separate ballots for players and managers, executives and umpires.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Last year, the new group of commissioners decided to bring back Nadine Jarmon as the housing authority's executive director.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
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El Dorado County voters also decided three Zone of Benefit tax measures on Tuesday.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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He was released under the Obama administration with a notice to appear in court but never did, leading a federal immigration judge to order his deportation in absentia in 2012.—
Greg Wehner , Bill Melugin,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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The judges on Sunday included McIntosh's widow, Derotha McIntosh; Greg Henderson; Broadway Joe Booker; and Marty Ryall, the director of the Division of Arkansas Heritage.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Hoover was much better in the second quarter and led TCU into the red zone, but the Horned Frogs had to settle for a 35-yard Nate McCashland field goal.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Nov. 2025
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Soika, a surgeon, unsuccessfully tried to book a rental car to get to Utah for a weekend trip before settling on an option that seemed straight out of Hollywood.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Someone who is unable to work in mainstream punditry because his face no longer fits, but is determined to raise standards among those who do as an outside agitator.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Pay attention to frost dates, rainfall, and snow levels to determine when to mulch and how deeply.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The cases against the former prime minister are not being adjudicated in Pakistan’s regular civil courts.—
Rafia Zakaria,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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But the league’s decision to place his salary in an interest-bearing account suggests the NBA might wait until the matter is adjudicated before voiding Rozier’s contract.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Alleged violations of these treaties are arbitrated through the Investor State Dispute Settlement system (ISDS), which has turned out to be a boon for fossil asset owners.—
JESSICA F. GREEN,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Nov. 2025
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International investment treaty disputes are arbitrated under a third-party institution that employs attorneys who specialize in international law and have no particular ties to either party.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Referee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referee. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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