Synonyms of fair

fair 1 of 3

adjective

ˈfer 

1

as in sunny

not stormy or cloudy

we prayed for fair weather during our vacation at the beach

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sunny
• clear
• bright
• cloudless
• unclouded
• peaceful
• sunshiny
• mild
• moderate
• gentle
• pleasant
• temperate
• calm
• serene
• balmy
• tranquil
• placid
• fine
• clement
• halcyon

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rough
• raw
• dirty
• foul
• turbulent
• rainy
• bleak
• stormy
• harsh
• cloudy
• severe
• nasty
• overcast
• tempestuous
• inclement
• breezy
• squally
• gusty
• blustery
• hazy
• sunless
• murky
• foggy
• misty
• blustering
• soupy

2

as in equitable

marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias

a commanding officer who enjoyed the respect of his soldiers because his decisions were always fair

Synonyms & Similar Words

• equitable
• impartial
• equal
• objective
• unbiased
• square
• indifferent
• candid
• disinterested
• evenhanded
• dispassionate
• unprejudiced
• just
• reasonable
• nonpartisan
• frank
• balanced
• straightforward
• rational
• forthright
• open
• straight

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• partial
• unjust
• biased
• inequitable
• partisan
• unreasonable
• deceptive
• dishonest
• arbitrary
• deceitful
• prejudiced
• unconscionable
• one-sided
• nonobjective
• ex parte
• parti pris
• unfriendly
• colored
• unsympathetic
• distorted
• jaundiced
• warped

3

as in legal

following or according to the rules

a hockey player who is respected for his fair play

Synonyms & Similar Words

• legal
• moral
• ethical
• clean
• honorable
• sportsmanlike
• sportsmanly
• scrupulous
• principled
• law-abiding
• unimpeachable
• just
• irreproachable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unfair
• dirty
• foul
• wrong
• nasty
• immoral
• vicious
• unethical
• unscrupulous
• unsportsmanlike
• unprincipled
• unrighteous

4

as in pale

of light complexion

fair people tend to sunburn easily

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pale
• pallid
• paled
• light
• white
• wan
• pasty
• peaky
• sallow
• ashen
• sallowish
• ashy
• peaked
• palish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dark
• black
• swarthy
• swart
• brunette
• brunet

5

as in promising

having qualities which inspire hope

as long as the team keeps playing as hard as they can, they have a fair chance of winning—no matter what the scoreboard says

Synonyms & Similar Words

• promising
• bright
• optimistic
• encouraging
• hopeful
• likely
• rosy
• golden
• propitious
• heartening
• upbeat
• good
• auspicious
• favorable
• positive
• reassuring
• sure
• rose-colored
• roseate
• confident
• comforting
• soothing
• doubtless
• decisive
• assured
• cheering
• bullish
• unhesitating
• beamish
• eupeptic

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unlikely
• dark
• desperate
• discouraging
• dismal
• pessimistic
• gloomy
• hopeless
• bleak
• depressing
• disheartening
• dreary
• unpromising
• inauspicious
• doubtful
• uncertain
• dubious
• negative
• cheerless
• unpropitious
• unfavorable
• downbeat
• unencouraging
• grim
• gray
• miserable
• grey
• comfortless
• wretched
• bearish
• glum
• funereal

6

as in blonde

of a pale yellow or yellowish brown color

the abundance of people with fair hair in Scandinavia

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blonde
• blond
• sandy
• tawny
• golden
• straw
• flaxen
• ocherous
• strawberry blond
• white
• gold
• strawberry blonde
• ochreous
• blondish
• towheaded
• light
• ash-blond
• ash-blonde

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dark
• brown
• olive
• swarthy
• brunette
• swart
• brunet
• black
• black-a-vised
• raven
• ebony

7

as in decent

of average to below average quality

for what they charged us, the painters should have done better than a fair job of painting the house

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decent
• satisfactory
• medium
• reasonable
• middling
• indifferent
• adequate
• ordinary
• common
• nice
• mediocre
• passable
• acceptable
• sufficient
• okay
• good
• second-class
• respectable
• modest
• so-so
• fine
• run-of-the-mine
• second-rate
• OK
• tolerable
• moderate
• run-of-mine
• run-of-the-mill
• all right
• minimal
• alright
• presentable
• sufficing
• unexceptional

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• great
• excellent
• special
• optimal
• outstanding
• optimum
• maximum
• splendid
• superior
• terrific
• prime
• exceptional
• superb
• fantastic
• marvellous
• grand
• choice
• distinguished
• stellar
• supreme
• top
• marvelous
• fabulous
• classic
• first-class
• superlative
• exquisite
• sensational
• par excellence
• sterling
• peerless
• swell
• capital
• matchless
• number one
• nifty
• preeminent
• No. 1
• first-rate
• A1
• unparalleled
• top-notch
• tip-top
• unmatched
• inadequate
• insufficient
• unsurpassed
• unacceptable
• unsatisfactory
• lacking
• deficient
• wanting

8

as in beautiful

very pleasing to look at

generally considered the fairest girl in town, she had no lack of boyfriends

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beautiful
• lovely
• pretty
• attractive
• handsome
• cute
• good
• gorgeous
• stunning
• charming
• likely
• delightful
• goodly
• elegant
• perfect
• beauteous
• aesthetic
• glorious
• comely
• good-looking
• taking
• seemly
• ravishing
• flawless
• esthetic
• fascinating
• sexy
• pleasant
• aesthetical
• knockout
• magnificent
• drop-dead
• fetching
• hot
• desirable
• superb
• bonny
• appealing
• sightly
• esthetical
• bonnie
• lovesome
• exquisite
• splendid
• glamorous
• engaging
• delicate
• well-favored
• glamourous
• cunning
• alluring
• sublime
• radiant
• personable
• resplendent
• presentable
• statuesque
• prepossessing
• dainty
• seductive
• striking
• glossy
• luscious
• toothsome
• foxy
• slick
• showy
• flashy
• nubile
• prettyish
• photogenic
• flamboyant
• Junoesque
• snazzy
• hunky
• arresting
• chocolate-box
• splashy
• dishy
• dollish
• telegenic
• pulchritudinous
• zingy
• studly
• eye-catching
• showstopping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ugly
• plain
• bad
• grotesque
• unattractive
• terrible
• hideous
• homely
• horrible
• objectionable
• disagreeable
• unpleasing
• dreadful
• unlovely
• shocking
• offensive
• disgusting
• repugnant
• foul
• unsightly
• abhorrent
• ghastly
• repulsive
• sickening
• frightful
• vile
• abominable
• loathsome
• revolting
• unpleasant
• repellent
• nasty
• nauseating
• unhandsome
• unbeautiful
• uncomely
• unpretty
• unaesthetic
• unappealing
• ill-favored
• unappetizing
• uncute
• unprepossessing
• unbecoming
• repellant
• unimposing
• frumpy
• unshapely
• frumpish

9

as in unconditional

having no exceptions or restrictions

it would take a fair miracle for that project to be finished on time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unconditional
• complete
• simple
• absolute
• pure
• sheer
• total
• utter
• perfect
• definite
• very
• damn
• damned
• outright
• real
• thorough
• huge
• regular
• deadly
• dreadful
• clean
• profound
• downright
• thoroughgoing
• categorical
• unmitigated
• unadulterated
• constant
• unqualified
• crashing
• endless
• flat
• stark
• consummate
• genuine
• straight-out
• plumb
• unalloyed
• blank
• horrible
• rank
• flat-out
• terrible
• categoric
• dead
• blooming
• out-and-out
• all-out
• eternal
• perpetual
• stone
• bodacious
• authentic
• arrant
• extreme
• veritable
• classic
• main
• terrific
• unrestricted
• extraordinary
• hopeless
• unremitting
• supreme
• confirmed
• undying
• superlative
• habitual
• frightful
• inveterate
• surpassing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uncertain
• doubtful
• questionable
• restricted
• qualified
• dubious
• equivocal

10

as in deserved

being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong

most thought his dismissal was fair since he had been given many chances to clean up his act

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deserved
• justified
• competent
• due
• legal
• rightful
• proper
• appropriate
• suitable
• legitimate
• right
• just
• merited
• equitable
• warranted
• condign
• meet
• strict
• lawful
• correct
• fitting
• accurate
• applicable
• requisite
• apt
• true
• impartial
• fit
• stringent
• square
• uncompromising
• rhadamanthine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unfair
• unjust
• undue
• irrelevant
• unjustified
• unwarranted
• unreasonable
• improper
• undeserved
• incorrect
• inappropriate
• partial
• unequal
• unsuitable
• incoherent
• inapplicable
• unjustifiable
• indefensible
• inequitable
• biased
• unmerited
• arbitrary
• irrelative
• unlawful
• inapt
• despotic
• inapposite
• illegitimate

11

as in pristine

free from dirt or stain

a handwritten thank-you letter requires nothing less than a sheet of fair white paper

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pristine
• immaculate
• clean
• chaste
• pure
• milky
• spotless
• stainless
• shiny
• unsullied
• squeaky-clean
• sanitary
• antiseptic
• unsoiled
• spick-and-span
• spic-and-span
• flawless
• unstained
• snowy
• wholesome
• bright
• sparkling
• sterile
• unpolluted
• hygienic
• white
• untainted
• cleanly
• unblemished
• undefiled
• washed
• bleached
• cleansed
• scrubbed
• taintless
• purified
• abluted
• germfree
• whitened

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dirty
• foul
• filthy
• unclean
• muddy
• stained
• grubby
• greasy
• spotted
• soiled
• dingy
• uncleaned
• grimy
• mucky
• unwashed
• polluted
• sullied
• besmirched
• tainted
• smirched
• blackened
• unsterilized
• discolored
• unsterile
• defiled
• germy

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

• exhibit
• exhibition
• display
• show
• expo
• production
• exposition
• presentation
• performance
• demonstration
• auction
• sale
• offering
• spectacle
• extravaganza
• pageant
• presentment

fair

3 of 3

adverb

1

as in legally

according to the rules or the law

we expect everyone on this basketball court to play fair

Synonyms & Similar Words

• legally
• fairly
• clean
• cleanly
• morally
• ethically
• honorably
• nobly
• high-mindedly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dirty
• illegally
• unethically
• ignobly
• immorally
• dishonorably
• underhandedly

2

as in almost

chiefly British very close to but not completely

it fair takes your breath away when you find out what properties in London are going for

Synonyms & Similar Words

• almost
• practically
• nearly
• fairly
• most
• about
• virtually
• just about
• somewhere
• pretty much
• next to
• as good as
• more or less
• well-nigh
• much
• mostly
• nigh
• all but
• near
• borderline
• largely
• feckly
• mainly
• within an inch of
• somewhat
• chiefly
• by and large
• partly
• partially
• appreciably
• kind of

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• quite
• entirely
• fully
• absolutely
• completely
• thoroughly
• well
• altogether
• wholly
• totally
• plain
• utterly
• hardly
• plumb
• scarcely
• barely

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

Recent Examples of fair

Adjective

To be fair, those benchmarks apply to total retirement savings, not just what’s in a 401(k). —Mike Winters, CNBC, 17 June 2025

Or will institutions reaffirm their mission by embracing broader, fairer tools for recognizing talent and supporting student success? —Audrey Amrein-Beardsley, The Conversation, 17 June 2025

Noun

Audacity features authentic British fair, including fish and chips, bangers and mash, chicken and leek pie, as well Chicken Tikka Masala, an Indian dish popular in England. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2025

Pandemic isolation leads to birth of art fairs The effort to bring more art fairs to the Kansas City area started, in part, due to the isolation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers said. —Ramal Nasim, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2025

Adverb

Held in Brussels Expo, this premier fair is oft-cited as a favorite of true connoisseurs. —Kissa Castaneda, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025

And great news, the state fair shattered all previous attendance records! —David Plazas, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

Phrases Containing fair

• bid fair
• fair shake
• for fair