as in umpires
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy
served as the unofficial referee in disputes over the family business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in judges
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of referees
Terrance Friday, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
The boys’ team helped set up the gym, ran score tables, assisted referees, reset the mats for title matches, and sat mat-side cheering throughout the finals.
—Stephanie Ogilvie, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
The referees oversaw match rules, scoring accuracy, and safety compliance.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
How fans experience the game and how referees decipher controversial calls will only get better as visual AI advances.
—Jason Corso, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
On their way to the final, captain Diego Maradona scored the opening goal in the country’s quarterfinal match against England using his hand, which went undetected by referees.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
But the commissioner said technology could be used as a tool to support referees and ensure the correct calls are made.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Swayman went down to one knee and the referees broke up the skirmish.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
The 5-foot-7 junior showed slick moves to the basket and a nice shooting touch, aided by the referees’ unwillingness to whistle her for using her free hand to ward off defenders.
—Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
Smith is one of only a handful of Black referees in NFL history to lead a Super Bowl crew.
—Terrance Friday, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
The boys’ team helped set up the gym, ran score tables, assisted referees, reset the mats for title matches, and sat mat-side cheering throughout the finals.
—Stephanie Ogilvie, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
The referees oversaw match rules, scoring accuracy, and safety compliance.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
How fans experience the game and how referees decipher controversial calls will only get better as visual AI advances.
—Jason Corso, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
On their way to the final, captain Diego Maradona scored the opening goal in the country’s quarterfinal match against England using his hand, which went undetected by referees.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
But the commissioner said technology could be used as a tool to support referees and ensure the correct calls are made.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Swayman went down to one knee and the referees broke up the skirmish.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
The 5-foot-7 junior showed slick moves to the basket and a nice shooting touch, aided by the referees’ unwillingness to whistle her for using her free hand to ward off defenders.
—Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referees
Noun
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The hardest part of being a catcher is adjusting to the different pitchers and different umpires.—
Rick Cantu,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Feb. 2026
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Years ago, Major League Baseball had a crisis in which umpires notoriously had their own versions of the strike zone for batters.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Alongside him, judges Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie will return for their second year as a trio.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
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His component score, which judges a skater’s composition, presentation and skating skills each up to 10 points, also was higher than every other competitor.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Whatever the Supreme Court decides, 82 percent of American adults believe the president must obey the decision.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Feb. 2026
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Hassett added that tariff revenue would be only one potential funding source, noting that Congress ultimately decides how federal revenue — including taxes and tariffs — is spent through the appropriations process, according to remarks reported by USA TODAY.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Candidates don’t always honor their party’s endorsement and will sometimes advance to the August primary election, which officially determines the party nominee.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
4 Feb. 2026
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Each agency determines what work is essential or not.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And as that low light settles in, my whole body shifts in spirit.—
Josh Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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After this brief stretch of colder weather, a steady warming trend is expected from Thursday through Sunday as the ridge of high pressure to our west slowly shifts east and settles over Texas.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Referees.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referees. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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