as in umpire
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 to decide
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 referee
Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 7 Feb. 2025
Curry drained his sixth 3 to pull the Warriors within six, then the referees missed a clear eight-second violation that should have given the ball back to Golden State.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2025
Chantz Martin, Fox News, 20 Dec. 2024
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum complains to referee Kevin Cutler during Friday's 102-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Boston.
—Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for referee 
Noun
Perry was hoisted into the air on top of his teammates' shoulders while referees tried restoring order to the place, frantically blowing their whistles.
—Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 7 Feb. 2025
Curry drained his sixth 3 to pull the Warriors within six, then the referees missed a clear eight-second violation that should have given the ball back to Golden State.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
There are usually mixed reactions when NFL referees flag pass interference.
—Chantz Martin, Fox News, 20 Dec. 2024
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum complains to referee Kevin Cutler during Friday's 102-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Boston.
—Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for referee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referee
Noun
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The other officials – umpire Mike Morton, down judge Max Causey, line judge Mark Stewart, field judge Mearl Robinson, back judge Jonah Monroe and replay official Kevin Brown – are all in their first Super Bowl.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN,
9 Feb. 2025
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Right-field umpire Mark Carlson called fan interference, resulting in an out, and Capobianco and Hansen were quickly ejected from the stadium.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The singer decided to busk on the city’s Church Street ahead of his concert, but police officers literally pulled the plug, saying Sheeran didn’t have proper permission.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2025
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This is not a unitary polity, where the president decides for everyone, but 50 sovereign states that joined in union.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The Minneapolis federal consent decree is being reviewed by Judge Paul A. Magnuson, a senior judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota who was appointed by President Ronald Regan.—
Deena Zaru,
ABC News,
7 Feb. 2025
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Wilcox is asking a judge to declare her removal unlawful and reinstate her as a member of the board.—
Jericka Duncan,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Applying early — before her full retirement age of 67 — means settling for a smaller check.—
Liz Weston,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2025
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Iowa State didn’t have the same problem as the Cyclones began to settle in.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The return-to-work ordinance would require city executives to determine timelines to cease remote-work options for their employees.—
Jessica Boehm,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
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The way the system currently functions, each driver's performance in the play-off largely determines who will win the championship, despite their performance earlier in the season.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The tickets, which are issued for civil violations of local laws, often are adjudicated in administrative hearings where students typically don’t get legal representation.—
Jodi S. Cohen,
ProPublica,
4 Feb. 2025
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The move to fire her also means that the NLRB does not have enough members to hold a quorum, halting the NLRB from carrying out certain duties such as adjudicating routine cases.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Finally, after the Japanese crushed them at the Battle of Tsushima, the Russians agreed to peace negotiations arbitrated by the United States.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
10 Dec. 2024
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And in March, his name was circulated as a possible candidate to chair the Expediency Council (which arbitrates disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council), a significant promotion.—
Sanam Vakil,
Foreign Affairs,
9 Apr. 2017
Thesaurus Entries Near referee
Cite this Entry
“Referee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referee. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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