Definition of dispassionatenext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dispassionate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dispassionate are equitable, fair, impartial, just, objective, and unbiased. While all these words mean "free from favor toward either or any side," dispassionate suggests freedom from the influence of strong feeling and often implies cool or even cold judgment.

a dispassionate summation of the facts

How are the words equitable and just related as synonyms of dispassionate?

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

the equitable distribution of the property

When is it sensible to use fair instead of dispassionate?

The words fair and dispassionate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests.

a fair decision

When could impartial be used to replace dispassionate?

The meanings of impartial and dispassionate largely overlap; however, impartial stresses an absence of favor or prejudice.

an impartial third party

Where would just be a reasonable alternative to dispassionate?

In some situations, the words just and dispassionate are roughly equivalent. However, just implies an exact following of a standard of what is right and proper.

a just settlement of territorial claims

When is objective a more appropriate choice than dispassionate?

While in some cases nearly identical to dispassionate, 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 would unbiased be a good substitute for dispassionate?

While the synonyms unbiased and dispassionate are close in meaning, unbiased implies even more strongly an absence of all prejudice.

your unbiased opinion

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 dispassionate Carr, who apparently reacted to Kimmel's suspension last week by sending a GIF of TV characters doing a celebratory dance to a journalist, yesterday described his role at the FCC as that of a dispassionate arbiter. Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025 Kirkpatrick set out to create a fair, dispassionate tally of Trump’s two terms so far. David Remnick, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2025 Kent State is an empathetic, politically dispassionate look at that massacre in the spring of 1970. Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 21 July 2025 In the November pogrom, the antisemitisms of reason and emotion, of dispassionate law and thuggish violence, were brought into alignment for Hitler. Michael Scott Bryant, The Conversation, 2 Nov. 2023 See All Example Sentences for dispassionate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispassionate
Adjective
  • Minnesota officials have demanded the administration cooperate with state and local investigators in the probe of the two killings, but the White House has refused, leading Democrats to warn the administration is unlikely to conduct a fair and impartial investigation.
    Jordan Erb, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Gurulé said statements like that erode the public’s confidence that investigations are impartial.
    Claudia Lauer, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • My priority is to continue this strong fiscal stewardship while also working to ensure that state and federal funding per student is equitable with that of other high-performing districts.
    Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Advocating for government action to unlock access UNICEF has long advocated with governments to invest more in education systems and to remove school fees and other barriers to equitable access.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • As a result, Noel said, Haiti is often treated less as an equal partner in regional integration than as a vehicle through which CARICOM can project influence internationally.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
  • The show is equal parts investigation into the craft of writing and conversation about the topics of an author’s work.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dispassionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispassionate. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on dispassionate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!