as in deciding
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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 refereeing
Wyatt Earp, before his death in 1929, would sometimes come in for a drink after refereeing nearby boxing matches held in the area.
—
Chris Kenning, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Maybe a refereeing controversy will go Winnipeg’s way, just for kicks.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
On the wall and in frames propped up behind me were pictures of Padilla’s refereeing career, and of boxers who’d been in his orbit.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Amid the debate and fury surrounding refereeing standards in La Liga, accusations of bias are commonplace.
—Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
His refereeing prowess gets him a ticket to ref a big match in Plano against Plano South, where the Arlen mayor will be in attendance.
—Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
The screen name appeared to reference Gruenke’s involvement with hockey, from playing in a Northbrook men’s league to refereeing junior hockey league games, including the 2018 Illinois State High School Hockey Championships, the complaint alleged.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Commissioners have devoted a rare special meeting to deciding the contract award, placing board members in the position of refereeing between competing claims in the complicated realm of healthcare finances and reimbursement rates.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025
Chris Kenning, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Maybe a refereeing controversy will go Winnipeg’s way, just for kicks.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
On the wall and in frames propped up behind me were pictures of Padilla’s refereeing career, and of boxers who’d been in his orbit.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Amid the debate and fury surrounding refereeing standards in La Liga, accusations of bias are commonplace.
—Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
His refereeing prowess gets him a ticket to ref a big match in Plano against Plano South, where the Arlen mayor will be in attendance.
—Jake Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
The screen name appeared to reference Gruenke’s involvement with hockey, from playing in a Northbrook men’s league to refereeing junior hockey league games, including the 2018 Illinois State High School Hockey Championships, the complaint alleged.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Commissioners have devoted a rare special meeting to deciding the contract award, placing board members in the position of refereeing between competing claims in the complicated realm of healthcare finances and reimbursement rates.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refereeing
Verb
-
The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft grounded pending further inspection, following UPS and FedEx each deciding to ground the planes that make up part of their cargo fleet.—
NPR,
NPR,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will take part in a showdown this Sunday at Levi's Stadium that could possibly end up deciding who finishes first in the NFC West.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
North Carolina Electric Cooperatives estimates that heating can eat up as much as half of a home’s energy use, and with fall settling in, that can mean steeper bills ahead.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Soika, a surgeon, unsuccessfully tried to book a rental car to get to Utah for a weekend trip before settling on an option that seemed straight out of Hollywood.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The investigators found that Tarrant County Jail personnel acted in accordance with jail policies after determining Phillips was in medical distress.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Sacramento County coroner’s officials had not yet positively identified McClintic and were determining what caused the man’s death.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Michael, the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, looks likely to be expanded across two features, judging by the latest comments from Lionsgate execs.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Beyond acting, Parker has a wine label in partnership with a company called Invivo, is judging the 2025 Booker Prize contest and works with the States Project, an advocacy group focused on advancing Democrat issues and candidates at the state level.—
Megan Sauer,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
When adjudicating a request filed on Form I-129 involving the same parties and the same underlying facts, USCIS gives deference to its prior determination of the petitioner’s, applicant's, or beneficiary's eligibility.—
Stuart Anderson,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
The higher court unanimously ruled that the CPUC was granted unfair deference, and that all parties should be treated equally when adjudicating a dispute.—
Harvey Levine,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Complaints to umpires by players and managers who disagree with a call are as old as umpiring itself.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Pawol began umpiring baseball in 2016 in Rookie ball, after years of calling NCAA softball games.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The above proposal would incentivize claimants to name the league or the Commissioner as a party to avoid arbitrating in front of the Commissioner.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refereeing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refereeing. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share