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 That man is the intended result: A person so removed from our shared reality that no impartial fact can sway him from his fear, rage and commitment. Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2024 Arbitration involves settling a dispute outside a legal system before an impartial third party. Emma Roth, The Verge, 27 Sep. 2024 These emotional viewpoints are ready to be put through an impartial filter. USA TODAY, 24 Sep. 2024 The other side: Ahn said resonance can also bridge gaps between groups, and AI has the power to cut through the noise of misinformation by serving as an impartial fact-checker when wielded responsibly. Justin L. MacK, Axios, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for impartial 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impartial
Adjective
  • On the other, some commissioners pointed out, the language of the Brine Act required the companies to demonstrate that the royalty is fair and equitable.
    Ainsley Platt, arkansasonline.com, 5 Nov. 2024
  • This shift empowers users to own their data and identity, promoting a more equitable and user-centric digital environment.
    Gary Weinstein, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Studying the beliefs and ideas of a past time and place bumped the object to one side, where it now was given equal weight to economics, literature, religion, scientific developments, politics and other varieties of social life.
    Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
  • Up until March 2019, Fox owned one-third of Hulu — no more and no less than its equal partners in the 2008 joint venture.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • For such an iconic, objective award, the Heisman is the preeminent testament to the whims of subjectivity.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
  • The curse of religion is that its faithful cannot learn objective lessons from the evidence before them.
    Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near impartial

Cite this Entry

“Impartial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impartial. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on impartial

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