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
Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 7 June 2025
No penalty was given initially, and América tried to buy more time for VAR to intervene and encourage the referee to take a look at the replay.
—Avi Creditor, New York Times, 1 June 2025
Janine Henni, People.com, 11 Mar. 2025
The club said in a statement to Local 10 that referees and parents attempted lifesaving measures but were unsuccessful.
—Karen Fratti, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for referee
Noun
Head referee Danielle Chesky blew the whistle for what Gotham thought was the restart of play.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 7 June 2025
No penalty was given initially, and América tried to buy more time for VAR to intervene and encourage the referee to take a look at the replay.
—Avi Creditor, New York Times, 1 June 2025
Verb
Participants will learn how to referee grassroots games efficiently in a program for individuals over age 14 who hope to referee mini football, 9v9 and 11v11 games.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 11 Mar. 2025
The club said in a statement to Local 10 that referees and parents attempted lifesaving measures but were unsuccessful.
—Karen Fratti, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for referee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referee
Noun
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The umpire, who began to give a safe signal, reversed and called the runner out, game over.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
11 June 2025
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But a controversial umpire’s decision added Olympic defeat to a Wimbledon setback only weeks prior.—
Ken Makin,
Christian Science Monitor,
9 June 2025
Verb
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Clalit, after a review, decided to dismiss the complaint against Qasem Hassan.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
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The attorney general said that after the Supreme Court sided with Glossip earlier this year, his office reviewed the merits of the case against him and decided there is sufficient evidence to secure another conviction.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
9 June 2025
Noun
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In the latest example of how judicial systems around the world are grappling with how to handle the increasing presence of artificial intelligence in court, Sharp and fellow judge Jeremy Johnson chastised lawyers in two recent cases in a ruling on Friday.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
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Irwin, the juvenile court judge who is also on the board, declined to comment.—
Paige Pfleger,
ProPublica,
7 June 2025
Verb
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President Donald Trump credited the National Guard on Sunday for settling the protests against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in California.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2025
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With the Yankees and Red Sox knotted up, the rivals will look to settle their first series of the season on Sunday Night Baseball.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Future studies with more participants—measuring the long-term effects of these diets—are needed to determine who benefits the most from each one.—
Simon Spichak,
Health,
14 June 2025
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There is no update on the containment progress of the fire and its cause has yet to be determined. Source: National Interagency Fire Center This story was originally published June 13, 2025 at 3:56 PM.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
14 June 2025
Verb
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Later that month, another federal judge in Maryland ordered officials to return Cristian so that his asylum application could be adjudicated.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 May 2025
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The panel of nine had to reach a super majority of seven for a charge to be adjudicated.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
23 May 2025
Verb
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In May, Morris filed a lawsuit asking Tarrant County courts to force the Southlake megachurch to arbitrate a dispute about his retirement pay, the Star-Telegram previously reported.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 June 2025
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Peru could not reconcile herself to the cession of Peruvian territory, but offered to arbitrate the question of indemnities and other questions arising out of the war.—
Edwin M. Borchard,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Oct. 2011
Cite this Entry
“Referee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referee. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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