Synonyms of objective

objective 1 of 2

noun

as in purpose

something that one hopes or intends to accomplish

the summer camp's stated objective is to produce tournament-level tennis players

Synonyms & Similar Words

• purpose
• goal
• aim
• plan
• intention
• intent
• idea
• object
• thing
• ambition
• dream
• target
• meaning
• ideal
• point
• aspiration
• design
• end
• project
• mark
• name of the game
• hope
• pretension
• bourn
• bourne
• desire
• scheme
• mind
• wish
• plot
• destination
• holy grail
• grail
• nirvana
• terminus

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• method
• means
• way

objective

2 of 2

adjective

əb-ˈjek-tiv 

1

as in empirical

based on observation or experience

an objective assessment based solely upon the results of the experiment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• empirical
• empiric
• observational
• experimental
• existential
• factual
• experiential
• actual
• real
• genuine
• material
• indisputable
• established
• verifiable
• demonstrable
• undeniable
• accepted
• hard
• tried
• provable
• tried-and-true

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• theoretical
• theoretic
• hypothetical
• speculative
• conjectural
• nonempirical
• unempirical
• unsubstantiated
• metaphysical
• unproven
• visionary
• transcendentalist

2

as in impartial

marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias

the judge removed herself from the case because she doubted her ability to remain objective, given her friendship with one of the attorneys

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

3

as in historical

restricted to or based on fact

the paper's news stories strive to be scrupulously objective, with opinions clearly labeled as commentary

Synonyms & Similar Words

• historical
• factual
• documentary
• literal
• true
• nonfictional
• matter-of-fact
• real
• reliable
• simple
• actual
• authentic
• hard
• genuine
• documented
• verifiable
• bona fide
• sustainable
• demonstrable
• indisputable
• established
• right
• irrefutable
• incontrovertible
• unquestionable
• provable
• incontestable
• supportable
• undeniable
• plain
• certain
• confirmable
• undoubted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• theoretical
• fictional
• fictitious
• hypothetical
• theoretic
• speculative
• nonhistorical
• unhistorical
• fictionalized
• imaginary
• mythical
• nonfactual
• mythic
• nondocumentary
• apocryphal
• legendary
• invented
• fanciful
• undocumented
• fantastic
• unauthentic
• fantastical
• chimerical
• exaggerated
• fabulous
• make-believe
• pretend
• chimeric
• imagined
• unsupportable
• embroidered
• insupportable
• made-up

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun objective contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of objective are aim, design, end, goal, intention, intent, object, and purpose. While all these words mean "what one intends to accomplish or attain," objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.

their objective is to seize the oil fields

When is aim a more appropriate choice than objective?

While in some cases nearly identical to objective, aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.

her aim was to raise film to an art form

When can design be used instead of objective?

The meanings of design and objective largely overlap; however, design implies a more carefully calculated plan.

the order of events came by accident, not design

In what contexts can end take the place of objective?

The words end and objective are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.

willing to use any means to achieve his end

When is it sensible to use goal instead of objective?

Although the words goal and objective have much in common, goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.

worked years to reach her goals

When would intent be a good substitute for objective?

The synonyms intent and objective are sometimes interchangeable, but intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.

the clear intent of the statute

When might intention be a better fit than objective?

The words intention and objective can be used in similar contexts, but intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

announced his intention to marry

How do object and end relate to one another, in the sense of objective?

Object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.

his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

Where would purpose be a reasonable alternative to objective?

While the synonyms purpose and objective are close in meaning, purpose suggests a more settled determination.

being successful was her purpose in life

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of objective

Noun

But Ukraine need not destroy every element of the Russian military to achieve strategic neutralization—stripping away the enemy of its ability to achieve its objectives. —Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2025

The first objective has been around since the days of Fortran and Cobol, aimed at processing scientific and business data respectively. —Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2025

Adjective

An objective and thorough review will show nothing inappropriate was stored or kept by Amb. —Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025

That's why researchers were particularly interested in one 2019 study in the journal JAMA Psychiatry that made objective measurements of drug levels in umbilical cord blood in nearly a thousand mother-and-child pairs. —Allison Aubrey, NPR, 23 Sep. 2025