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
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Recent Examples of referees
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026
Contessa’s Corner Sports leagues, state gambling regulators and tribal leaders have all raised concerns that prediction market trades on sports don’t have the same level of guardrails as sportsbooks to protect against cheating by athletes, referees, coaches and other insiders.
—Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
None of the referees appeared to be struck by the objects being thrown on the court, despite video showing a windfall of debris raining down from the angry crowd.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
The conference is contracted with an officiating consortium operated by the Big Ten, which has drawn criticism for sending inexperienced, underqualified crews while its top referees work games in the Midwest.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The world needs more referees and geopolitical firefighters to put out the fires of wars and conflicts.
—Galip Dalay, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
Before the Bruins’ 80-46 win over the Trojans, Jones and former teammate Kiki Rice stood across from each other at center court to speak with the referees before the game.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026
Gordon said referees never gave him an explanation.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
This time, however, Barrymore revived the segment with a few additions, most notably a golden ping-pong trophy, sweatbands, and referees Ross Mathews and Sunny Anderson asking all the spicy questions.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
The referees stole a win from Pittsburgh with a questionable interpretation of the rules.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026
Contessa’s Corner Sports leagues, state gambling regulators and tribal leaders have all raised concerns that prediction market trades on sports don’t have the same level of guardrails as sportsbooks to protect against cheating by athletes, referees, coaches and other insiders.
—Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
None of the referees appeared to be struck by the objects being thrown on the court, despite video showing a windfall of debris raining down from the angry crowd.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
The conference is contracted with an officiating consortium operated by the Big Ten, which has drawn criticism for sending inexperienced, underqualified crews while its top referees work games in the Midwest.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The world needs more referees and geopolitical firefighters to put out the fires of wars and conflicts.
—Galip Dalay, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
Before the Bruins’ 80-46 win over the Trojans, Jones and former teammate Kiki Rice stood across from each other at center court to speak with the referees before the game.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026
Gordon said referees never gave him an explanation.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
This time, however, Barrymore revived the segment with a few additions, most notably a golden ping-pong trophy, sweatbands, and referees Ross Mathews and Sunny Anderson asking all the spicy questions.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referees
Noun
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The league will debut the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System to check the accuracy of umpires’ pitch calls.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
31 Dec. 2025
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Contemporary managers, executives and umpires will be considered in December 2026, classic era candidates in December 2027 and contemporary era players again in December 2028.—
Ronald Blum,
CBS News,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The winner was chosen by an independent panel, which each year judges the entries on artistic achievement.—
Thomas Smith,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
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Joining judges Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough this week is former dancing pro Kym Johnson.—
Brianne Tracy,
PEOPLE,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And while Elliott would like to see Nielsen as the next CEO, if the board decides on someone else who is equally qualified, Elliott will support that decision.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
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Georgia grows tired of her husband and their nightly trips to the fancy French restaurant and decides to have an affair with another man at another table (Alan Howard).—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The system determines whether sanitization is needed and leaves that choice to the user.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
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Even with a healthy points balance, flexibility often determines whether booking an award flight is possible.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After his death, Pine settles into a requisite life in London as Alex Goodwin, a member of an unexciting intelligence unit called the Night Owls.—
Emily Zemler,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
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Through meditation, the mind naturally relaxes, settles into the present moment, and grants us access to our consciousness and our own innate intelligence.—
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,
Time,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Referees.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referees. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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