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
CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Challenges must be made immediately after the umpire’s call.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
Jeremy Collins, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
News Of The Week Jen Pawol became the first woman to umpire a regular-season MLB game, marking a historic milestone for baseball.
—Erin Spencer Sairam, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umpire
Noun
The second and third outs were called third strikes, both of them initially balls before All-Star catcher Realmuto challenged through the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), or so called robot umpires, that will be used in the regular season for the first time this year.
—CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Challenges must be made immediately after the umpire’s call.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Ed Montague umpired for 34 seasons and recalls Bonds’s ability more clearly than most.
—Jeremy Collins, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
News Of The Week Jen Pawol became the first woman to umpire a regular-season MLB game, marking a historic milestone for baseball.
—Erin Spencer Sairam, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umpire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umpire
Noun
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But the referee called Malango for a foul leading to the pass to Rodriguez.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
8 Mar. 2026
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The referees quickly flagged it for goaltending, and with it, Hall set the program record for most points in a season by a freshman.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize.—
Staff Reports,
The Providence Journal,
7 Mar. 2026
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The judge asked Bruns, the government attorney, what standards are used to decide if a reporter poses a security risk.—
Michael Kunzelman,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Lesli Boese told the judge Thursday that Casap was too dangerous to ever be released from prison.—
Todd Richmond,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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The Justice Department told a federal appeals court that judges who blocked executive orders sanctioning several law firms had infringed on the president’s authority.—
Mark Berman,
Washington Post,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some are fearful, however, that an old pattern of extraction without development may be settling in.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
TikTok and Snap were also named defendants in the lawsuit, but settled before the trial began.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Since the electronic structure of nickelates involves several energy bands, determining the exact carrier density is difficult, so the Hall coefficient served as a practical way to map how the system evolves.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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As with any event, the location and the time of year have been the two biggest determining factors for the direction of my dress.—
Alexandra Ditch,
Vogue,
8 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
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Its jurisdiction over credits is especially powerful, arbitrating decisions that can shape careers, reputations, and earnings.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Many of the characters seek the help of some kind of outside authority to adjudicate their neighbor disputes.—
Tyler Foggatt,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
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For them, Mauritius’s maneuvers to adjudicate the status of the Chagos islands despite British objections offer a thrilling glimpse of a better future.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Dominic Solanke was adjudged to have made a fair challenge on City defender Marc Guehi in the act of scoring Tottenham’s first goal, something that annoyed manager Pep Guardiola and his players.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 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 14 Mar. 2026.
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