UMPIRE Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

umpire 1 of 2

noun

ˈəm-ˌpī(-ə)r

Definition of umpire

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

umpire

2 of 2

verb

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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of umpire

Noun

Manager Craig Counsell wasn’t happy second-base umpire Ramon De Jesus did not rule the Orioles’ Henderson obstructed second base with his foot on Hoerner’s steal attempt. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026 By calling a game early for excessive precipitation (or making players continue to trudge through poor conditions), an umpire’s subjective view of weather conditions directly influences MLB records. — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 9 July 2026

Verb

Ogilvie has also squeezed in umpiring the last three years. — Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 Despite reportedly taking some violent blows to the head and wrestling the alleged thief to the ground, Ballou was able to umpire the Phillies’ game the next night. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for umpire

Recent Examples of Synonyms for umpire

Noun

Sami interfered in the match and the referee called for the bell.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
With boos and jeers ringing around Expo Idaho at the referees, AC Boise continued to pepper the Portland box with dangerous crosses and shots.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 18 July 2026

Definition of referee

Verb

Sebastian Reader, a 28-year-old from London, has long been fascinated by American culture and decided to make a three-month trip out of the World Cup.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
During that time, board members toured multiple potential locations before ultimately deciding not to include one in the final plan.

— Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026

Definition of decide

Noun

Immediately after the prosecutor finished his closing argument, the judge found Broadwater guilty without leaving the bench to deliberate.

— ProPublica, ProPublica, 14 July 2026
After the judge left the bench, promising a ruling by day’s end, India blew kisses to Banks as he was led away, back into custody.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2026

Definition of judge

Verb

Gendron said his ancestors were among the first outsiders to settle the island in the 1700s, when three brothers, fur traders all, left Canada and followed the Mississippi south.

— Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
The space is cozy and laid back, with an atmosphere that encourages guests to settle in for a drink or two.

— Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of settle

Verb

In response to the lawsuit, the NFL and teams sought to compel arbitration based on the coaches' employment contracts and a provision of the NFL Constitution that gives the NFL commissioner, Goodell, authority to arbitrate disputes between coaches and member clubs.

— Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 26 May 2026
The Safety Engine arbitrates conflicting commands, enforces operational envelopes, and gates execution against runtime safety conditions.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 21 May 2026

Definition of arbitrate

Verb

The final overriding decision was therefore not simply a process of adjudicating biological facts, but a judgment about what classification might do.

— Max Moser, STAT, 9 July 2026
Pfendler appears to have broken both the previous women's speed record as well as the men's speed record, according to records maintained by Ocean Rowing Society International, which adjudicates ocean-rowing achievements for Guinness World Records.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026

Definition of adjudicate

Verb

Antoine Griezmann, France vs Croatia, 2018 Griezmann restores France’s lead with a penalty after Ivan Perisic was adjudged to have handled in the box.

— Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov won the Hart Trophy as the NHL player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team, marking the second such honor of his career after also winning the award in 2019.

— Mercury News, Mercury News, 12 June 2026

Definition of adjudge

Browse Nearby Words

umiaks

umpire

umpired

See all Nearby Words

Articles Related to umpire

Cite this Entry

Style

“Umpire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umpire. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of umpire

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

The Words of the Week - Aug. 8

Know Your Baseball Idioms

9 Words Formed by Mistakes

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on umpire

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

raffish

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes