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fair

2 of 3

noun

as in exhibit
a public showing of objects of interest a dazzling array of sleek cabin cruisers at the annual boat fair

Synonyms & Similar Words

fair

3 of 3

adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fair contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of fair are dispassionate, equitable, impartial, just, objective, and unbiased. While all these words mean "free from favor toward either or any side," fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests.

a fair decision

When is dispassionate a more appropriate choice than fair?

The words dispassionate and fair can be used in similar contexts, 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 are the words equitable and just related as synonyms of fair?

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

the equitable distribution of the property

Where would impartial be a reasonable alternative to fair?

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

an impartial third party

When would just be a good substitute for fair?

The words just and fair 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

In what contexts can objective take the place of fair?

While in some cases nearly identical to fair, 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 can unbiased be used instead of fair?

In some situations, the words unbiased and fair are roughly equivalent. However, 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 fair
Adjective
This year's fair closed early on Aug. 9, its penultimate date, due to flash flooding. Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 15 Aug. 2025 Now, to be fair, she’s seemed pretty miserable for most of And Just Like That …, but especially so in this final season. Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
According to the ride’s Facebook page, the Apollo 13 travels to fairs, festivals and other events across the United Kingdom. Colson Thayer, People.com, 12 Aug. 2025 The Wisconsin Bakers Association, which runs the cream puff operation, scrambled to find a Wisconsin dairy farm that could produce 1,200 to 1,500 gallons of cream for each day of the fair. Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Adverb
Job fair scheduled for Jan. 16 in Tinley Park Job seekers are invited to join the Southwest Job Fair, set for 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive. Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025 Sotheby’s marketing, like that of a luxury brand, had skilfully woven a narrative around the sensation that the banana sculpture, by the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, created when first exhibited at the Art Basel Miami Beach fair in 2019. Scott Reyburn, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fair
Adjective
  • The company’s basic kits contain a solar panel that can fit in a backyard or other sunny space, along with equipment to maintain and regulate the flow of energy including an inverter and smart meter.
    Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The fabric’s breathability made even the sunniest afternoons far more bearable.
    Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • That’s the person who can integrate diverse expertise, promote equitable contributions, and cultivate trust.
    Jamil Zaki, Harvard Business Review, 15 Aug. 2025
  • School funding was made more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing state revenue on those needs, the release said.
    Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Substance abuse issues, legal issues, controversies and confrontations.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2025
  • If Mehta decides to force a sale, there will undoubtedly be legal challenges that could take months or years to resolve.
    Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Beneath the bone, the pale, smooth tube of spinal cord is exposed.
    Sophia Li, NPR, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Signs your plants need attention include pale foliage, spindly new growth, and fewer new flowers.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The last race before the summer break in Hungary showed promising signs for the team.
    Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
  • Among the most promising signs in Monday’s data were great strides by the city’s youngest test takers.
    Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Leadership failures left many people without work to do or decent conditions in which to live.
    Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Young and the offense may only get one series of work — head coach Dave Canales only wants that unit to play 8-12 plays, and all of that could be eaten up with a decent first drive.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • But now, the historic home faces something beautiful and meaningful: the city's newest park.
    Dana Afana, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Across time and place, House of Smoke moves toward a reckoning with the troubled South that shaped my worldview and an appreciation for the many gifts my beautiful and tragic mother bestowed.
    John T. Edge, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • One of the most important parts of the film is the story of Ella Little-Collins unconditional love towards Malcolm X, Gayotto-Hohl said.
    Damenica Ellis, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2025
  • In the pic, eras overlap seamlessly, capturing the primal fears, rituals, and unconditional bonds that remain unchanged through time.
    Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fair. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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