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
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 referee
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
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
Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
In November, California voters may have to referee a multimillion-dollar battle among Uber, attorneys and doctors.
—Levi Sumagaysay, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for referee
Noun
The score was waved off, however, after the referee ruled that Curs had used her had to move the ball to Day.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
With each witness, Guillard — in her role as her own attorney — challenged their testimony in sometimes testy back-and-forths that had to be refereed by the judge and court staff.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
In November, California voters may have to referee a multimillion-dollar battle among Uber, attorneys and doctors.
—Levi Sumagaysay, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for referee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referee
Noun
-
The game featured 11 ABS challenges to plate umpire Andy Fletcher's strike zone, with the Twins going 8 for 9 — including four successful challenges by Ryan Jeffers while batting.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Yankees went a perfect 5-for-5 with ABS challenges in Monday’s 2-1 walk-off loss to the Mariners, but that didn’t stop Boone and company from barking at home plate umpire Mike Estabrook.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This information helps the military decide whether a rescue is immediately feasible, what methods should be used, and which aircraft to send to rescue the crew.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
As first impressions go, this was the equivalent of forgetting a date’s name, checking the phone while ordering, and deciding to talk religion and politics over dessert.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Trever Nehls was also defeated in a 2022 race for Fort Bend County judge by three percentage points.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
When the populist demagogue Willie Stark orders Burden, journalist turned gumshoe, to dig up dirt on a local judge, Burden demurs; certainly there are no skeletons in the office of the good judge.—
Brenda Wineapple,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The impossibility of his quest began to settle in.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The Southlake megachurch and its attorneys want to use someone from the American Arbitration Association or a district judge to settle the matter.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
White Settlement detectives collaborated with agencies across North Texas to determine whether the three suspects were connected to similar incidents in the Metroplex, according to the statement.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Pierson was determined to do things differently.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Coffey opened a special court in a homeless shelter so homeless people facing misdemeanors could have their cases adjudicated.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The State Department said that all visa applications will be adjudicated on a case-by-case basis by officers.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Who is or is not punk rock is still something Love and Corgan deny Gordon the right to arbitrate.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2026
-
In 2022, however, SeaWorld allegedly refused to pay Sesame Workshop millions of dollars in royalties for the Sesame Place park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, forcing Sesame Workshop to arbitrate the claim, according to the lawsuit.—
Isabel Yip,
NBC news,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Referee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referee. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
