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
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Recent Examples of referee
Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026
After Haiti’s lost to Scotland, Haitians launched several petitions demanding that FIFA sanction the referee.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 June 2026
Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
Clark later walked over to referee Jason Alabanza and appeared to engage in a verbal spat.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for referee
Noun
White answered for her team's foul trouble in the game as well and didn't rule out that referees are calling more fouls on them.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026
After Haiti’s lost to Scotland, Haitians launched several petitions demanding that FIFA sanction the referee.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 June 2026
Verb
Chosen from all six confederations and across 50 FIFA member associations, the 170-strong refereeing contingent – featuring six women – is the largest roster of officials in tournament history.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
Clark later walked over to referee Jason Alabanza and appeared to engage in a verbal spat.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for referee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referee
Noun
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Mendoza appeared to exchange words with plate umpire Carlos Torres from the dugout.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
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Why isn’t the batter allowed to appeal when the home plate umpire does call it a swinging strike?—
Jim Bowden,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Attorneys for the Justice Department asked Cooper for more time to respond to Beatty, saying the Kennedy Center is still deciding how to proceed.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
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Lucky decides to take Mason to his first baseball game in Atlanta, only to encounter a series of complications and setbacks for which fatherhood, grief, and economic barriers are a distinct part of the Black American experience.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
Noun
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The filing, submitted in the San Diego County Superior Court, seeks a judge’s order to condemn and destroy the embargoed kratom products, halt ongoing unlawful manufacturing and impose civil penalties.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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The appeals court judge cited various cases where the 9th Circuit sided against religious institutions on being allowed to only hire like-minded employees, a coach praying after football games, and a fireman who was allegedly fired over his religious beliefs, among other cases.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Saudi Arabia was 10 minutes away from upsetting Uruguay, only to settle for a tie.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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His father embarked on a number of business ventures, including working as a taxi driver, after the family settled in New York City.—
Kelsie Hoffman,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The initial reason for the date requirement – which began in the 1940s – was to determine if a ballot that had been received after the election had been sent before the polls closed.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
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Actual salary increases will vary among employees because some of the funding is being used for market adjustments, and employee compensation is also determined by placement on the salary schedule, according to the district.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
Verb
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Among the revisions, the agreement recognizes the City of Mableton Municipal Court and preserves the city's ability to retain revenue generated through matters adjudicated there.—
CBS News Atlanta Digital Team,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
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This inspired a lot of lawsuits that have winded their ways through the court system and the Supreme Court is adjudicating one of those lawsuits right now, basically interpreting the Constitution.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Verb
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In response to the lawsuit, the NFL and teams sought to compel arbitration based on the coaches' employment contracts and a provision of the NFL Constitution that gives the NFL commissioner, Goodell, authority to arbitrate disputes between coaches and member clubs.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
26 May 2026
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Their contracts require them to confidentially arbitrate with the commissioner (or his designee) as the arbitrator.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Referee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referee. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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