Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective impartial contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of impartial are dispassionate, equitable, fair, just, objective, and unbiased. While all these words mean "free from favor toward either or any side," impartial stresses an absence of favor or prejudice.

an impartial third party

When could dispassionate be used to replace impartial?

The synonyms dispassionate and impartial are sometimes interchangeable, but dispassionate suggests freedom from the influence of strong feeling and often implies cool or even cold judgment.

a dispassionate summation of the facts

How do equitable and just relate to one another, in the sense of impartial?

Equitable implies a less rigorous standard than just and usually suggests equal treatment of all concerned.

the equitable distribution of the property

In what contexts can fair take the place of impartial?

The words fair and impartial can be used in similar contexts, but fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests.

a fair decision

When is just a more appropriate choice than impartial?

The words just and impartial are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, just implies an exact following of a standard of what is right and proper.

a just settlement of territorial claims

When would objective be a good substitute for impartial?

While in some cases nearly identical to impartial, objective stresses a tendency to view events or persons as apart from oneself and one's own interest or feelings.

I can't be objective about my own child

When might unbiased be a better fit than impartial?

In some situations, the words unbiased and impartial are roughly equivalent. However, unbiased implies even more strongly an absence of all prejudice.

your unbiased opinion

Examples 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 impartial Stepping back and observing this part of you with an impartial eye lessens the self-judgment and keeps you from clobbering yourself. Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024 The 4th Circuit determined Laffitte’s Sixth Amendment right to an impartial jury had been violated. Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 14 Nov. 2024 Although 70% of Americans believe that the justices of the Supreme Court render politically motivated decisions rather than impartial ones, this assertion is fundamentally inaccurate. Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 13 Nov. 2024 Even the city attorney, who was involved with the drafting of the measure, had six more days to prepare his impartial analysis. Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for impartial 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impartial
Adjective
  • Pay Transparency Laws Pay transparency laws require employers to disclose salary ranges and, in some cases, benefits to create equitable pay practices.
    Alonzo Martinez, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Toward Environmental Justice: Key Concepts Environmental justice results from the equitable distribution of environmental benefits and harms through the restructuring of systems of oppression.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Those 15 guys are forcing turnover after turnover while breaking opponents’ offenses and wills in equal measure this season.
    John Hollinger, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
  • There are a few ways to make a saline solution; some doctors recommend equal parts of table salt and distilled water, while other recipes are more complex.
    Maya Dollarhide, Parents, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But modern advances in brain scans and other more objective measures of understanding animal psychobiology continue to show more similarities.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Color palettes emulate the yellowing fade of old photographs and the overly saturated or unnaturally cool tones of digital imagery, a reminder that the camera is rarely an objective observer.
    Carolina A. Miranda, ARTnews.com, 15 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near impartial

Cite this Entry

“Impartial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impartial. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on impartial

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