referees 1 of 2

noun

plural of referee
as in umpires
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy served as the unofficial referee in disputes over the family business

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referees

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of referee
as in judges
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

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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 referees
Noun
That is, until the referees wiped it off the board because Bell’s toe had stepped out-of-bounds prior to the catch. — Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026 As referees stopped Charlie Adams’ corner kick to separate a pair of players in the box, Adams whispered for Barea to come closer. — Idaho Statesman, 4 Oct. 2026 Lots of fans of other teams have falsely believed the Chiefs received help from the referees during Kansas City’s dynasty. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026 The referees called a play dead over an inadvertent whistle that set up another third-down play. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026 But the referees ruled the ball was blown dead before the fumble. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026 And it was destined to fail, to do more harm than good, at the moment soccer’s lawmakers left both decisions entirely in the hands of referees. — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 16 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referees
  1. umpires
  2. judges
  3. decides
  4. determines
  5. settles
Noun
  • The umpires have repeatedly reminded attendees to quiet down in between games.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of umpires
Verb
  • For an adolescent navigating friendships, rejection, identity and belonging, something that never judges them or gossips and is always available can be incredibly compelling.
    — Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026
  • He was seen on the CBS broadcast giving one of the side judges an earful.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of judges
Verb
  • If India decides to limit rice exports due to concerns about domestic food insecurity, that will in turn increase global rice prices.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
  • If a community decides the potential benefits of such a project (jobs and reduced taxes, for example) outweigh its costs, the municipality should be able to move forward.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of decides
Verb
  • Operational value creation is what is left, and in a cycle concentrated below $1 billion, the quality of the separation is what determines the return.
    — Miki Kapoor, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Each establishment determines the experiences offered to Inside members and his or her plus-one.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of determines
Verb
  • Once your wager settles, BetMGM will credit your account with $150 in Bonus Bets.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The arrival of Alma, a real estate developer from Madrid who settles in Gazulea with her two daughters, disrupts the community’s life and sparks a conflict between the town’s future and the preservation of its roots.
    — Franchesca Guim, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of settles

Browse Nearby Words

refereeing
referees
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Cite this Entry

“Referees.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referees. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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