demanding arbiter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "demanding arbiter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has high expectations or is strict in their judgments or decisions, often in a context involving authority or decision-making. Example: "The demanding arbiter of the competition ensured that all participants adhered to the strict rules and guidelines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And when I took apart the bicycle, the mechanical world served as the demanding arbiter.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In a post-awards interview he again declared himself the true arbiter of greatness, demanding Beck forfeit his album of the year statue to Beyoncé.

The Guardian - Music

General Pinochet responded by demanding, "Since when are ambassadors arbiters of our internal problems?" He added, "We are not anyone's colony or slave".

The New York Times

Newspapers have less and less ambition and are demanding less and less of themselves as arbiters of what is actually important, of what our problems are and how we're addressing them.

Vice

The military seemed to aggressively assert itself as an arbiter between two irreconcilable forces: a popular uprising demanding Mr. Mubarak's fall and his tenacious refusal to relinquish power.

The New York Times

Update, 18 27 The Guardian's Dan Milmo filed this detailed report this morning and BBC London quotes Boris demanding that the government coughs up the £400 million shortfall the arbiter has identified.

The Guardian

In an act of Christian compassion, urged by the town's budding novelist and would-be moral arbiter, Tom Edison Paul Bettanyy), the townsfolk take her in -- but quickly set about exploiting her, demanding domestic services at first and then sexual favors.

The New York Times

There is no arbiter who can demand decisiveness.

Huffington Post

They seem to have forgotten that it was they, through their union, who had demanded that this state panel be the final arbiter.

The New York Times

Governments that would be enormously emboldened if the nation that proclaims itself the arbiter and standard-bearer of liberty and freedom were to demand this kind of cryptographic corruption from the tech industry.

TechCrunch

And on the other, that a response to the war in Afghanistan and to Russia now demand more commitment than the comfortable German default position as go-between and self-appointed moral arbiter — long tolerated and occasionally encouraged by Germany's allies as convenient penance for the Nazi era — previously required.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "demanding arbiter" when you want to convey the idea of someone who applies strict standards and expects a high level of performance or adherence to rules.

Common error

Avoid using "demanding arbiter" in casual or informal writing where a simpler term like "strict judge" or "firm decision-maker" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "demanding arbiter" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "demanding" modifies the noun "arbiter". It describes someone or something that acts as a judge or decision-maker while setting very high standards.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "demanding arbiter" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe an entity imposing strict standards and expectations. While relatively rare in frequency, as confirmed by Ludwig, it appears across various contexts, including news media, scientific discourse, and academic analyses. Alternatives include "strict judge" or "rigorous mediator", offering similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. When using this phrase, ensure that the context warrants its formal and precise connotation, avoiding overuse in casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strict judge

Emphasizes the severity and adherence to rules.

rigorous mediator

Highlights the thoroughness and exactness in mediating.

exacting evaluator

Focuses on the high standards applied during evaluation.

firm decision-maker

Stresses the resoluteness and inflexibility of the decision-maker.

uncompromising adjudicator

Highlights the refusal to make concessions during judgment.

severe critic

Emphasizes the harshness and negativity of the judgment.

stringent assessor

Focuses on the strictness and precision of the assessment.

authoritative figure

Stresses the position of power and influence in making decisions.

critical appraiser

Highlights the analytical and judgmental nature of the appraisal.

demanding referee

Refers to someone who applies rules very strictly in a competition.

FAQs

How to use "demanding arbiter" in a sentence?

You can use "demanding arbiter" to describe someone or something that imposes strict standards or expectations. For example, "The mechanical world served as the demanding arbiter when I took apart the bicycle."

What are some synonyms for "demanding arbiter"?

Alternatives include "strict judge", "rigorous mediator", or "exacting evaluator" depending on the specific context.

Is "demanding arbiter" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "demanding arbiter" is appropriate for formal writing where a precise and impactful description of a strict decision-maker is needed.

What's the nuance of using "demanding arbiter" compared to "strict judge"?

"Demanding arbiter" suggests not only strictness but also a high level of expectation and perhaps difficulty in satisfying the demands. A "strict judge", on the other hand, simply implies adherence to rules.