as in decided
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
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Recent Examples of refereed
Graham Scott refereed in the Premier League for a decade before retiring in 2025 to return to his previous career as a journalist.
—
Graham Scott, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The building that houses this establishment has hosted gambling, cockfighting, a gallery, a dance hall, and even boxing matches once refereed by Ernest Hemingway himself.
—Chelsea Brasted, Southern Living, 12 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
Preckwinkle and the County Board authorized the Tyler contract, and her Bureau of Technology has refereed its implementation.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Graham Scott, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The building that houses this establishment has hosted gambling, cockfighting, a gallery, a dance hall, and even boxing matches once refereed by Ernest Hemingway himself.
—Chelsea Brasted, Southern Living, 12 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
Preckwinkle and the County Board authorized the Tyler contract, and her Bureau of Technology has refereed its implementation.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refereed
Verb
-
In one version of the script, Alonzo managed to escape, but Washington and Fuqua decided against it.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Tampa Bay has lost 12 of its last 13 playoff games decided in overtime going back to Game 5 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.—
Eduardo Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All the grit and sugar had settled at the bottom.—
Douglas Stuart,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
At 14 weeks pregnant and with a gender reveal party on the horizon, her family said things had settled into place.—
Caroline Silva,
AJC.com,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Santiago Castro’s intended cross deflected off Ezri Konsa and over the line, only for the striker’s toe to be judged offside in the build-up.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
It'll be judged in April 2027 or 2028 when people see what [the war] has done over the coming months and years.—
Fatma Tanis,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her law license was suspended, but even then she was determined not to give up her caseload.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
That September, investigators determined the incidents may be related and began interviewing residents in the area in November.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Coffey opened a special court in a homeless shelter so homeless people facing misdemeanors could have their cases adjudicated.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The State Department said that all visa applications will be adjudicated on a case-by-case basis by officers.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Hart Trophy, voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, is awarded to the NHL player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team, and Celebrini seems to fit that description.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
There was a nervy finale at San Siro as Nikola Vlasic pulled one back from the penalty spot after Pavlovic was adjudged to have dragged down Simeone.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Any such controversy or claim shall be arbitrated on an individual basis and shall not be consolidated in any arbitration with any claim or controversy of any other party.—
CBS News Philadelphia Staff,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Alleged violations of these treaties are arbitrated through the Investor State Dispute Settlement system (ISDS), which has turned out to be a boon for fossil asset owners.—
JESSICA F. GREEN,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Chris Segal, who umpired Sunday’s finale between the Orioles and Twins, had a league-high 10 calls challenged, seven of which were reversed.—
Johnny Flores Jr,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Ed Montague umpired for 34 seasons and recalls Bonds’s ability more clearly than most.—
Jeremy Collins,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refereed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refereed. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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