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
Michael Cox, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The student section was starting to storm the floor before referees ruled the ball had gone out of bounds off Oak Forest with two seconds left, giving the Hawks the ball on the baseline.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The game at Wyoming (5 p.m. PST, CBS Sports Network) is the Aztecs’ final trip to Laramie before moving to the Pac-12 next season … A moment of silence was observed before the game for Terry Wymer, the officiating coordinator from the Big Ten consortium that supplies referees to the Mountain West.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for referee
Noun
But now, inevitably, some referees jazz up their announcements.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The student section was starting to storm the floor before referees ruled the ball had gone out of bounds off Oak Forest with two seconds left, giving the Hawks the ball on the baseline.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
The National Football League (NFL) must overhaul its inconsistent, poorly-performing, horse-and-buggy refereeing system.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The game at Wyoming (5 p.m. PST, CBS Sports Network) is the Aztecs’ final trip to Laramie before moving to the Pac-12 next season … A moment of silence was observed before the game for Terry Wymer, the officiating coordinator from the Big Ten consortium that supplies referees to the Mountain West.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for referee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referee
Noun
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But starting this season, it will be used at the major league level, giving players the chance to appeal an umpire’s ball-strike call.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
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And without an umpire watching closely — or without video evidence — that kind of infraction can be difficult to spot.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In June, county voters will decide whether to back it.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
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Yet it’s left largely to each state to decide how much infectious disease reporting to require about it.—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The defense attorney has told the judge that Dratman and Fischer failed to call up a witness who gave investigators an alibi for Serafini on the day his wife’s parents were shot.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
21 Feb. 2026
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The judge's order prohibits officials from preparing for the referendum through March 18.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Trojans eventually settled in on offense, but their stifling defense would have to lead the way throughout.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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The former duchess reportedly owed Johnny O’Sullivan a little under £100,000, which Epstein helped her settle after her bankruptcy in 2010.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Its outcome could help determine how those other cases are resolved.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
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Horst has reluctantly postponed Serafini’s sentencing three times in the past several months, because the judge had to first hear testimony and arguments to determine whether to grant Serafini a new trial.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Fully funding immigration judges and Border Patrol to ensure asylum cases are quickly and fairly adjudicated while stopping real crime such as drug and human trafficking.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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The strategy, attorneys said, allows the government to avoid adjudicating the merits of immigration cases entirely.—
Ben Fenwick,
Oklahoma Watch,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Its jurisdiction over credits is especially powerful, arbitrating decisions that can shape careers, reputations, and earnings.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
5 Feb. 2026
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Volunteers often are needed for low-level jobs that Quimby does willingly, including keeping track of how long a person is taking for a shower, arbitrating the line for use of two bathrooms, and moderating use of washers and driers.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Referee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referee. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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