Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective impartial contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of impartial are dispassionate, equitable, fair, just, objective, and unbiased. While all these words mean "free from favor toward either or any side," impartial stresses an absence of favor or prejudice.

an impartial third party

When could dispassionate be used to replace impartial?

The synonyms dispassionate and impartial are sometimes interchangeable, 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 do equitable and just relate to one another, in the sense of impartial?

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

the equitable distribution of the property

In what contexts can fair take the place of impartial?

The words fair and impartial can be used in similar contexts, but fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests.

a fair decision

When is just a more appropriate choice than impartial?

The words just and impartial 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

When would objective be a good substitute for impartial?

While in some cases nearly identical to impartial, 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 might unbiased be a better fit than impartial?

In some situations, the words unbiased and impartial 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 impartial Once again, Attorney General Bonta has failed to perform his fiduciary duty of providing fair and impartial information to the voters. Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 31 Aug. 2025 Primus said in his tenure the STB always strove to be impartial and apolitical. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025 Leaders have to remain fair, impartial and judicious in their actions—too much empathy can cloud all this. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025 Our reviews are impartial and our opinions are our own. New Atlas, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impartial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impartial
Adjective
  • Civil rights leaders criticized the federal government at the time for failing to prioritize equitable access in communities of color.
    Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
  • These include helping your family, helping your group, demonstrating reciprocity, demonstrating bravery, respecting a hierarchy and your superiors, dividing resources in an equitable way and respecting ownership of property.
    Tracy Brower, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • If there’s still a coffee mark, mix powder laundry detergent with equal parts water and white vinegar to make a paste.
    Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Though The Blackening is laugh-out-loud funny, its sharp writing makes for equal parts horror and humor, rarely letting its tension rest for a second.
    Yasmeen Hamadeh, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The two competing studies from less-than-objective sources leave us still wondering what the true impact might have been.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Get an objective snapshot of your business health today.
    Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Impartial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impartial. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on impartial

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