REFEREED Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

refereed

verb

past tense of referee

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of refereed The 46-year-old Slovenian refereed Madrid’s 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the 2024 Champions League final. — ABC News, 17 July 2026 There were accusations that several matches have been refereed in favor of Argentina. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 14 July 2026 Dieperink had refereed in professional football since 2011, taking charge of 284 matches, and had officiated in the Eredivisie, the top flight of Dutch football, since 2017. — Sam Joseph, New York Times, 13 July 2026 Artan has refereed for FIFA since 2018 and won awards for his work. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026 Any Avs postseason game refereed by Kelly Sutherland automatically starts with one eyebrow raised. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 May 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

Expecting large crowds thanks to the World Cup, owners decided to open on Sundays.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 19 July 2026
Sebastian Reader, a 28-year-old from London, has long been fascinated by American culture and decided to make a three-month trip out of the World Cup.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026

Definition of decided

Verb

Global crude prices settled as high as $114 a barrel in May, as strikes in the Middle East and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz choked off supplies from the Gulf.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
But everybody settled in, with time to do so thanks to the league’s return to an untimed format.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 14 July 2026

Definition of settled

Verb

This summer has been challenging, yet Newcastle are adamant that their 85 per cent majority owner, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), is determined to spend up to the maximum within the rules moving forward.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 July 2026
In April 2020, an intelligence assessment determined that Chinese intelligence officials analyzed voter registration data from multiple states, according to a report that was declassified in 2022.

— Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2026

Definition of determined

Verb

And there could be veteran players available, given the recent court injunction allowing fourth-year seniors from 2025-26 a fifth season of eligibility — at least until the case is adjudicated, however long that might take.

— Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2026
Both men were detained, but the accusations remain allegations and have not been adjudicated.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2026

Definition of adjudicated

Verb

Antoine Griezmann, France vs Croatia, 2018 Griezmann restores France’s lead with a penalty after Ivan Perisic was adjudged to have handled in the box.

— Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov won the Hart Trophy as the NHL player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team, marking the second such honor of his career after also winning the award in 2019.

— Mercury News, Mercury News, 12 June 2026

Definition of adjudged

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

Definition of arbitrated

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referee

refereed

refereeing

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“Refereed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refereed. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of refereed

verb

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