UMPIRES Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

umpires 1 of 2

noun

plural of umpire

as in referees

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

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umpires

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of umpire

as in judges

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

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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 umpires

Noun

If some umpires have treated Vitello differently than other managers, then that’s a poor reflection on them for betraying their impartiality. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Royals Manager Matt Quatraro gets tossed after umpires reverse a run scoring balk taking away a run from the Royals. — Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026 The Royals initially got a third run in the frame via a Vodnik balk that scored Jensen from third, but after the umpires met to discuss, it was overturned. — Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2026 But the umpires thought otherwise and forced him to pull Brown. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026 One source of potential officials or umpires is players who might not go beyond the high school level but want to stay in the game. — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2026 The kid who manages the umpires … the two workers at Jamba Juice. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Verb

For the first time in the big leagues, umpires’ ball and strike calls can be challenged and either upheld or overturned after a quick review of the pitch data. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for umpires

Noun

That may come in the form of a big special-teams play, a heads-up stop by a defender or even questionable calls by the referees.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2026
Yellow flags Nothing did more damage to UConn’s defense in Saturday’s opener than the little yellow flags that fluttered onto the field from the referees’ waistband.

— Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of referees

Verb

This week’s newsletter looks at why people are drinking less alcohol, how the world judges America and how many people use chatbots like a friend.

— Scott Clement, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2026
That’s a hard sell in a market that judges most leaders on quarterly results.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of judges

Verb

If the prosecution decides to retry the case, a new jury would be selected, and the case would proceed to a new trial with a different jury.

— Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2026
The Tate brothers remain in jail in the US while a judge decides on the request for their extradition to Britain, where they are wanted on rape charges.

— Reuters, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of decides

Verb

Of course, our bodies are all different, and this determines how quickly—or slowly—our hair grows.

— Carly Cardellino Vaccaro, InStyle, 5 Sep. 2026
If the Interior Department determines the animals have met recovery goals, the administration will also work with states to encourage them to remove state-level protections and revise standards governing lethal wolf removal.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of determines

Verb

Adebo could see some action against three-receiver sets regardless, depending on what Harbaugh settles with at the slot corner spot.

— Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026
As the fiscal reality of these mandates settles in communities across the state, the scramble of local governments to avoid cutting both core and beloved school programs like Outdoor School will become even more frantic.

— Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of settles

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“Umpires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umpires. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of umpires

noun

verb

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