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
Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 15 Feb. 2025
Earlier in the season, Chase had expressed his frustration with the referees after a controversial call during the Bengals-Chiefs matchup in September.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 10 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
Musselman, agitated, barked at referees on their way off the floor.
—Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 15 Feb. 2025
Earlier in the season, Chase had expressed his frustration with the referees after a controversial call during the Bengals-Chiefs matchup in September.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 10 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 second focuses on Frank (Josh Thomson), the fearful umpire and school teacher who tries to hide from everyone.—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
21 Feb. 2025
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There’s even a focus on a highly efficient umpire/teacher with romantic commitment issues venturing into the online dating world — dazzlingly reimagined as a videogame by Pixar’s animators.—
Randy Myers,
The Mercury News,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Conversely, could the Blues still decide to add to the roster?—
Jeremy Rutherford,
The Athletic,
7 Mar. 2025
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France's President Emmanuel Macron has said that Europe, not Washington, will decide the future of the continent and added that there would be a response to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In June 2009, a judge at the High Court in London ruled that the work carried out by Corby Borough Council on the town’s steelworks between 1985 and 1997 had been negligent.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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Albertsons pulled the plug on the deal in December after a judge temporarily blocked the union.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Slotkin spoke from Wyandotte, Mich., a working-class community south of Detroit, as Democrats struggle to settle on a unified message to combat Trump, which was on full display Tuesday night as Trump delivered the longest address to Congress by a president in U.S. history.—
Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports,
arkansasonline.com,
5 Mar. 2025
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Slotkin’s spoke from Wyandotte, Michigan, a working-class community south of Detroit, as Democrats struggle to settle on a unified message to combat Trump, which was on full display Tuesday night as Trump delivered the longest address to Congress by a president in U.S. history.—
Joey Cappelletti,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Hunter Dickinson was determined to make sure his Kansas Jayhawks walked out of CU Events Center with a victory Monday.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2025
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Candidates vying for the seat have to file for it 72 hours before the caucus, the time and location of which has yet to be determined.—
Michelle L. Quinn,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Those requests are now before the Merit Systems Protection Board, a panel of three judges that adjudicates federal personnel disputes.—
Lydia DePillis,
New York Times,
25 Feb. 2025
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Deportation cases in the U.S. are largely adjudicated through a court process, and turning in individuals before they are convicted would have a chilling effect in immigrant communities, Johnson’s Office of Immigrant Rights argued in a memo last week to aldermen.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2025
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.—
TIME for Kids,
TIME,
21 Feb. 2025
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McDonough was obligated to arbitrate his claims, as opposed to litigating them.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
14 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Referee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referee. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
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