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
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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
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 May 2025
When a player is fined, the NBA puts each dollar for a technical foul, ejection, slur, inappropriate comment to a referee or a suspension toward a charity.
—James Jackson, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Janine Henni, People.com, 11 Mar. 2025
The club said in a statement to Local 10 that referees and parents attempted lifesaving measures but were unsuccessful.
—Karen Fratti, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for referee
Noun
Then Denver coach Michael Malone went nose to nose in a yelling match with referee Marc Davis.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 May 2025
When a player is fined, the NBA puts each dollar for a technical foul, ejection, slur, inappropriate comment to a referee or a suspension toward a charity.
—James Jackson, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Verb
Participants will learn how to referee grassroots games efficiently in a program for individuals over age 14 who hope to referee mini football, 9v9 and 11v11 games.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 11 Mar. 2025
The club said in a statement to Local 10 that referees and parents attempted lifesaving measures but were unsuccessful.
—Karen Fratti, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for referee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referee
Noun
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The game was delayed 18 minutes, first for the umpires to deliberate on what the proper ruling would be, then to clear the field of debris thrown from the Rogers Centre stands.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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The umpires gathered and, after a lengthy meeting, ruled Soto out for passing Nimmo.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
Verb
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However, the outcome was decided in the most unexpected way: Nicklaus bogeyed the hole, but Palmer couldn't take advantage of it and carded a double bogey, sealing a three-stroke victory for Nicklaus.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 May 2025
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In a thousand-year-old sport where a split second can decide everything, two months will probably feel like an eternity.—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Noun
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In the early morning of May 17, Javar Miller was released after a judge dismissed his deportation case.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
7 June 2025
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Prosecutors also alerted the judge that an individual inside the courtroom had broadcast the proceedings, using Mia's name and later outing her again on his YouTube channel.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
Verb
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With the Yankees and Red Sox knotted up, the rivals will look to settle their first series of the season on Sunday Night Baseball.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
8 June 2025
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President Donald Trump credited the National Guard on Sunday for settling the protests against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in California.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Wakanda Forever, the show follows Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), a young genius inventor determined to make her mark on the world.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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Cohen said this would help determine if vehicles had any missing parts before the tow, a seeming nod to the news organizations’ story about a DMV employee who the agency’s investigators found schemed with a towing company to undervalue vehicles and sell them for thousands in profit.—
Ginny Monk,
Hartford Courant,
1 June 2025
Verb
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Later that month, another federal judge in Maryland ordered officials to return Cristian so that his asylum application could be adjudicated.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 May 2025
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The panel of nine had to reach a super majority of seven for a charge to be adjudicated.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Peru could not reconcile herself to the cession of Peruvian territory, but offered to arbitrate the question of indemnities and other questions arising out of the war.—
Edwin M. Borchard,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Oct. 2011
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That means agents must arbitrate claims against a player for unpaid commissions, but could sue them in court for any other aspect of their relationship.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Referee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referee. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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