Thesaurus results for ARBITER

arbiter

noun

ˈär-bə-tər

Definition of arbiter

as in referee

a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy the dean of student affairs is the proper arbiter when a student disputes a grade

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 arbiter The fact that the United States, in its recent conflict with Iran, directly destabilized international energy markets undermines the country’s claim to be a fair arbiter of the global commons. — Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026 For the science-fiction concepts underpinning that world, including gravity control, faster-than-light communication and cognitive materialization, Kamiyama worked with novelist Toh EnJoe, credited as SF setting supervisor, as an outside arbiter. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026 The third album from Scottish folk artist Donovan placed him alongside the Byrds and the Yardbirds as an early arbiter of psychedelic rock. — Air Mail, 8 Aug. 2026 At the time, the Russian Federation submitted an appeal to CAS to challenge the ROC suspension, but the sports arbiter dismissed Russia’s case, upholding the IOC’s suspension. — Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for arbiter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbiter

Noun

Among the top-performing VARs last season were EFL referee Paul Howard and EPL assistant Neil Davies.

— Graham Scott, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
The play was reviewed and upgraded to a Flagrant 2 after the referee said there was windup, impact and follow-through on the foul, resulting in Carrington’s ejection.

— Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of referee

Noun

Booking information from Clark County Detention Center in Nevada shows Hughes in custody with no bail, with a hearing before a judge scheduled for Thursday morning.

— Dennis Romero, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence in a Texas federal prison camp, had argued she was selectively prosecuted as a scapegoat, but the judge dismissed those claims as frivolous.

— Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of judge

Noun

Cases are decided by baseball-style arbitration − a process in which the arbitrator must award either the amount proposed by the insurance plan or what the medical provider asks.

— Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
An arbitrator has ordered The Washington Post to reinstate a Black opinion writer fired over social media posts about violent white men following last year’s killing of Charlie Kirk.

— Corey Williams, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of arbitrator

Browse Nearby Words

arable

arbiter

arbiters

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Arbiter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbiter. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of arbiter

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes