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
-
But everything has been put on hold until the league is decided.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Chudzinski played basketball up until high school and was on the golf team his first two years at Lincoln-Way West but has decided to zone in on baseball.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The job of a leader — whether a mayor, CEO, coach, or school administrator — is not to make people feel emotionally settled before every difficult decision.—
Jonathan Alpert OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
In their search for a primary challenger to Massie, the president’s allies eventually settled on Gallrein, who had not previously run for political office.—
Russell Berman,
The Atlantic,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The project denounces Haiti’s justice system through the story of a woman imprisoned for years without trial and later judged not by law, but by scripture.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
-
But strategy is judged by outcomes, not bravado.—
Jon Duffy,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There was diligence paid to scouting Bernard, and the Eagles were determined to land him.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
It was determined Megan had suffered from extreme exhaustion, dehydration, vasoconstriction, and low metabolic levels.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Spain's opposition has pledged to fight the policy through multiple channels, and the far-right Vox party has already filed a formal request for the country's Supreme Court to suspend the royal decree while the measure is adjudicated.—
Inaya Folarin Iman,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Celebrini could be a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy, given annually to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Referee Clement Turpin adjudged that Eric Garcia was the last defender when Alexander Sorloth went to ground under his challenge, and so his yellow card was upgraded to red.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 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
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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 1 May. 2026.
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