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
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
Smith, 54, has been an official for 11 seasons and has refereed 10 postseason games.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 1 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
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
Smith, 54, has been an official for 11 seasons and has refereed 10 postseason games.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 1 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
-
Minnesota Department of Corrections But the judge decided Connie would get two years and three months.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Boozer picked up most of his points with the game already decided.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After the Heat settled itself, Durant nailed two threes, the second of which moved him past Michael Jordan into fifth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
-
After Hall converted a loose ball off a Kahlina miscue in the 81st — the goalkeeper’s one blemish in an otherwise commanding night — Goodwin settled things with a second goal in stoppage time.—
Colin Cerniglia,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Yeah, neurodivergence is continually being misunderstood and judged on the outside without ever showing anything on the inside.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The disciplinary verdict against Israeli soccer, judged last August, was finally announced after a meeting of FIFA’s ruling council chaired by Infantino, who restated his organization had peaceful goals in a month of turmoil for World Cup planning amid war in the Middle East.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After a physical altercation at a Colorado prison in January, the Colorado Department of Corrections has determined that inmate Tina Peters is not guilty of assaulting another inmate.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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District officials have not yet determined what the cost will be once the program is run by community education, Keister said.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After the jury and Starks were ordered to leave the courtroom, Namie argued Starks wasn’t telling the truth, since he had been adjudicated (convicted) as a juvenile a few years earlier for armed robbery.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Between October 2022 and June 2024, 90 percent of participants in Tarrant County’s Youth Advocate Programs services were not adjudicated or convicted of a new charge while enrolled, and 100 percent stayed enrolled in school, graduated, or earned a GED, according to Youth Advocate Programs.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The crossbar, the tip of Dan Ndoye’s heel being adjudged to be offside, and a familiar brand of wasteful finishing all combined, in frustrating fashion, to ensure one more blank was added to that tally in this 0-0 draw with Fulham.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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Larry Gomez is 68 and has umpired Northern California Little League for 27 years.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 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 23 Mar. 2026.
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