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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
Fiesta del Sol 2025 Fiesta del Sol, Solana Beach’s largest street fair, will be held May 31 and June 1 this year at Fletcher Cove. Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025 This isn’t the first time Hadid has played around with fairer hair hues. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 12 May 2025
Noun
More Art Events There are plenty of art goings-on in New York City beyond the fairs. Tanya Mohn, New York Times, 2 May 2025 Numerous official visits also took place during the fair, including that of Brigitte Macron accompanied by the Queen of Denmark. Sarah Kreps, Foreign Affairs, 28 Apr. 2025
Adverb
And great news, the state fair shattered all previous attendance records! David Plazas, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024 Jobs time Hiring signage displayed at a job and resource fair hosted by the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board in partnership with NCWorks in Hendersonville, North Carolina, US, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Michele Luhn, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for fair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fair
Adjective
  • Additional alerts may be issued Tuesday afternoon if sunny and warm conditions continue, the alert said.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
  • Maybe not the actual people, who are usually sunny and chipper in contrast to their grisly work, but certainly the actual act of being worked on by one of them.
    Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • The group later delivered a letter to the governor’s office that called for equitable school funding and the passage of Senate Bill 1511, which has passed out of the Education Committee and has been sent to Appropriations.
    Jessika Harkay, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2025
  • The Cook County Board of Review has consistently advocated for reforms to improve initial assessments and ensure equitable outcomes for all taxpayers.
    George Cardenas, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • On May 19, 2025 English has become the lingua franca in the Gulf, but fluency is patchy, and Arabic, the official language, plays only a limited role outside legal and government contexts.
    London School of Economics, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • Potential resources include applying for free or discounted hospital services, legal advice and consumer counseling.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • Serena wears a pale blue, longsleeved gown with butterflies adorning the train.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 13 May 2025
  • The ground floor of the townhouse features a bright and airy open-plan reception, dining and kitchen area designed with pale wooden floors, high ceilings and intricate artwork.
    Emma Kershaw, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • If anything, the research holds some promising takeaways for people.
    Jamie Ducharme, Health, 20 May 2025
  • The idea the experience sparks — a titillating rendezvous with the naked man at the bottom of her sake glass, Jane would never — is enough to kickstart her writing, at least to spit out some very promising pages.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • Those who stuck around to watch the game saw a decent debut for the Hopkins native outshone by another former UConn star, Napheesa Collier, who scored 34 to equal the Lynx record for most points in a season opener, per ESPN.
    Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 17 May 2025
  • Tellez is a decent hitter — sort of dangerous but also not dangerous enough to prevent him from being let go each of the past two offseasons.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • Churches aren’t just beautiful buildings that uplift New York.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
  • The property has beautiful minimalist, modern design with pops of natural wood accents and stunning views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains.
    Kimberley Mok, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Trump offered to mediate the conflict and renewed his call for an unconditional ceasefire.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • Then, in Kyiv, Ukraine, France, Germany, the UK and Poland demanded an unconditional ceasefire for a month, and published a picture of the five countries’ leaders on the phone to President Trump.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 16 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fair. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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