objective

material, physical, corporeal, phenomenal, sensible, objective mean of or belonging to actuality. material implies formation out of tangible matter; used in contrast with spiritual or ideal it may connote the mundane, crass, or grasping.

• • material values

physical applies to what is perceived directly by the senses and may contrast with mental, spiritual, or imaginary.

• • the physical benefits of exercise

corporeal implies having the tangible qualities of a body such as shape, size, or resistance to force.

• • artists have portrayed angels as corporeal beings

phenomenal applies to what is known or perceived through the senses rather than by intuition or rational deduction.

• • scientists concerned with the phenomenal world

sensible stresses the capability of readily or forcibly impressing the senses.

• • the earth's rotation is not sensible to us

objective may stress material or independent existence apart from a subject perceiving it.

• • no objective evidence of damage

fair, just, equitable, impartial, unbiased, dispassionate, objective mean free from favor toward either or any side. fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests.

• • a fair decision

just implies an exact following of a standard of what is right and proper.

• • a just settlement of territorial claims

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

• • the equitable distribution of the property

impartial stresses an absence of favor or prejudice.

• • an impartial third party

unbiased implies even more strongly an absence of all prejudice.

• • your unbiased opinion

dispassionate suggests freedom from the influence of strong feeling and often implies cool or even cold judgment.

• • a dispassionate summation of the facts

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

intention, intent, purpose, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain. intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

• • announced his intention to marry

intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.

• • the clear intent of the statute

purpose suggests a more settled determination.

• • being successful was her purpose in life

design implies a more carefully calculated plan.

• • the order of events came by accident, not design

aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.

• • her aim was to raise film to an art form

end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.

• • willing to use any means to achieve his end

object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.

• • his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.

• • their objective is to seize the oil fields

goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.

• • worked years to reach her goals