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
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
With the stakes so high and everyone watching, the modern World Cup referee must have exceptional multitasking, communications and management skills.
—
Eric Zillmer,
Scientific American,
26 June 2026
CBS News,
9 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for referee
Noun
The referee has the discretion to pause and even suspend matches when this chanting happens.
—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
With the stakes so high and everyone watching, the modern World Cup referee must have exceptional multitasking, communications and management skills.
—
Eric Zillmer,
Scientific American,
26 June 2026
Verb
Artan would have been the first Somali to referee at a World Cup.
—
CBS News,
9 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for referee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referee
Noun
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On Monday night, Contreras was ejected in the second inning after a check-swing strikeout prompted him to give a sarcastic ABS challenge gesture at the umpire, earning an instant boot.
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First base umpire Nic Lentz ejected him in the second inning after Lentz ruled Contreras failed to check his swing on a Miles Mikolas pitch that ended up being a strikeout.
Verb
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Obviously, mom needs to be given the options in this situation and allowed to make her own decisions, but those options can be framed in such a way that mom has to decide the option within the framework of allowing her children their autonomy as well.
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After countless date nights spent wandering Costco aisles during executive member hours and dining on food-court pizza and hot dogs, Beth and Alec Harwerth decided there was no better location for their engagement photos.
Noun
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Over three days in the downtown courtroom in June, a Times reporter observed how many immigrants were funneled into the courtroom in groups, and the judge rarely addressed them directly, typically calling up around five cases at a time.
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Prior to the trial beginning, the judge agreed that questions about Brown’s felony conviction for his 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna would be barred from testimony.
Verb
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Delta has denied these allegations and settled Nejat’s lawsuit last year.
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The company agreed to settle the case without admitting liability.
Verb
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Readiness is an ongoing practice, not a declaration, determined by daily interactions and the safety to be candid.
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Investigators later determined the teen had distant family members in Colorado.
Verb
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After Coroner Scott Sayers denied the request, Sherwood successfully appealed to the Office of Open Records, or OOR, a state agency responsible for adjudicating Right-To-Know Law disputes.
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Rather than adjudicating guilt, the filmmakers opted to leave the question of truth open to viewers.
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.
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Their contracts require them to confidentially arbitrate with the commissioner (or his designee) as the arbitrator.
Cite this Entry
“Referee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referee. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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