impartial

adjective

(ˌ)im-ˈpär-shəl How to pronounce impartial (audio)
Definition of impartialnext
as in equitable
marked by justice, honesty, and freedom from bias an impartial evaluation of the job applicant's qualifications that does not consider age, gender, or race

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The plan is not impartial, neutral or independent, according to deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 27 May 2025 Nothing could prevent Juror No. 217 from being impartial. —Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2025 But two church lawyers have told CNN that the report is far from impartial and is an attempt to influence the conclave in an anti-Francis direction. —Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 6 May 2025 India blamed Pakistan for backing the attackers, while Islamabad denied involvement and called for an impartial international investigation. —Zia Ur-Rehman, New York Times, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for impartial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impartial
  1. equitable
  2. equal
  3. objective
Adjective
  • These days — at least on Friday nights — the space offers musicians an equitable spotlight.
    — Erick Galindo, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
  • The result is a more agile, inclusive and resilient workforce where employees have equitable access to growth.
    — Abakar Saidov, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of equitable
Adjective
  • Not surprisingly, Fort Lauderdale has historically been seen — and seen itself — as a vestigial appendage of its southern neighbor rather than an equal force to be respected and reckoned with.
    — Peter Lane Taylor, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • The former is directly connected to financial assistance offered by a school for a shared and equal fee—the cost of matriculation at the college—while the latter is less about university financial assistance and more about compensation for services or identity use.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 June 2025
Definition of equal
Adjective
  • The intent of this article is to provide objective information; however, readers should be aware that the author may have a financial interest in the subject matter discussed.
    — Joel Shulman, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • And all of us—users, voters, citizens—can demand that AI serve science and objective truth, not just correlations.
    — Erik Otárola-Castillo, Time, 7 June 2025
Definition of objective

Browse Nearby Words

imparted (to)
impartial
impartiality
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Impartial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impartial. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of impartial for Spanish Speakers

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