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
Josh Gross, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
When the court refused a second continuance to a later date, Haddy asked his client to appear alone and make another request for a new trial date on their own, according to the legal referee’s findings.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for referee
Noun
El Salvadoran referee Ismaael Cornejo held up the restart and checked the finish, eventually deeming Delgado offside on the Palencia cross to give the visitors life.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
When the court refused a second continuance to a later date, Haddy asked his client to appear alone and make another request for a new trial date on their own, according to the legal referee’s findings.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
Since at least the war in Vietnam, courts have refused to referee disputes between the President and Congress over war powers.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for referee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referee
Noun
-
If catchers, pitchers, or hitters believed an umpire missed a call, they were suddenly allowed to challenge it.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
In the first inning on April 18, Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo challenged an 0-1 splitter that the umpire ruled a ball.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Padres got a force at second base while Meidroth decided to take off for home.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
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Unlike many of her peers, Pau decided to maintain a professional day job while pursuing her artistic practice.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
The Hornets were originally part of the suit but a judge dropped them from it.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 May 2026
-
In 2023, a federal judge found that Georgia’s congressional and legislative maps illegally diluted Black voting strength and ordered lawmakers to draw additional majority-Black districts.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Let what surfaces settle before making your next move.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
-
Moses could put his real game face on and settle into his pre-race routine—even if a bit rushed—to get Pal in the zone, and then send him off into the Valley of Roses to pick up his jockey, then on to the starting gate.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), which investigates complaints about the NHS, determined that a local health body was denying women, but not men, funding for sterilization.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
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Their protections may have been further eroded with a precedent decision recently in which the Board of Immigration Appeals determined that DACA status alone is not enough to stop deportation.—
Hallie Golden,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Verb
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That agency is tasked with adjudicating appeals from federal employees regarding adverse actions taken against them.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The jury is asked to set aside their impressions of Musk to adjudicate the case.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the leaders reported that the core business of the guild — paying residuals, arbitrating credit disputes, and so on — continues, though the guild’s offices, theater and library remain closed.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
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The Google mass arbitration may be the first to seek to represent corporate plaintiffs, as most of the group legal proceedings to date have sought to arbitrate consumer or labor-related claims.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Referee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referee. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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