as in referee
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy
usually acts as umpire in the all-too-frequent squabbles between the two other roommates
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to decide
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)
in our family disputes regarding the use of our home entertainment system are umpired by Dad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of umpire
Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
The league will debut the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System to check the accuracy of umpires’ pitch calls.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Dec. 2025
Becky Sullivan, NPR, 13 Aug. 2025
Pawol was the seventh woman to umpire in the minor leagues and made her pro debut in the Gulf Coast League in June 2016, according to MLB.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umpire
Noun
That committee is set to vote later this year on managers, executives and umpires, with Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker among those who could be elected for the Class of 2027.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
The league will debut the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System to check the accuracy of umpires’ pitch calls.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Dec. 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 was the seventh woman to umpire in the minor leagues and made her pro debut in the Gulf Coast League in June 2016, according to MLB.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umpire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umpire
Noun
-
Atkinson whipped his arm against the nearby referee before the whistle was blown.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Tucked in among all of the many things that Pep Guardiola has got off his chest about referees over the past couple of weeks was a very small detail that might explain an awful lot.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Most recently, in 1995, voters there only narrowly decided to remain.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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Her parents pay for her apartment in a Brooklyn brownstone, and her biggest inconvenience seems to be that her sister has decided to live there, too — in the spare bedroom that’s not even in use.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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On Wednesday, the Manhattan district attorney's office urged the judge in that case to schedule a July 1 trial date.—
MICHAEL R. SISAK,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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Reilly argued that the judge handling the civil proceedings never evaluated the complaint as potentially falling under an ordinary negligence claim.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Brent crude futures settled above $70.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
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Russia's advance in Ukraine has largely settled into a grinding war of attrition, and analysts say that Russian President Vladimir Putin is in no rush to find a settlement, despite his army's difficulties on the roughly 600-mile front line.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Once on scene, deputies quickly determined the animal was injured.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
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Transportation will determine whether White Stadium functions as a community asset or becomes a recurring source of congestion, neighborhood disruption, and political backlash.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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O’Foghludha noted that Duke and Mensah agreed to arbitrate a dispute, but that no arbitrator has yet been assigned.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Trump is perfectly positioned to arbitrate this dispute and potentially take the issue off the table for the rest of his presidency.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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An Essex County court was adjudicating the dispute; the local news surrounding the case had prompted the representatives to make inquiries.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
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The commission also has a conflict of interest in adjudicating its own penalties, the complaint argues, since the money collected from those fines funds its own enforcement and other programs.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The flashpoint transpired in the 32nd minute between Villa and Newcastle United as referee Anthony Taylor adjudged the striker to have left his leg in on a sliding Schar.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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So if the Sharks can stay in the playoff picture, defy the prognosticators and get in, then Celebrini should no doubt be considered for the Hart, given to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
6 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Umpire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umpire. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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