Objective Synonyms | Uses & Example Sentences

Objective is an adjective meaning “impartial” or “empirical” and a noun meaning “goal.”

Some synonyms for objective are:

  • Equitable
  • Unbiased
  • Evenhanded
  • Factual
  • Verifiable
  • Tangible
  • Aim
  • Target
  • Purpose

Synonyms for objective

Some synonyms for objective are stronger matches than others. For example, “equitable” means “fair and impartial” and is therefore almost always a good substitute for objective meaning “impartial.” On the other hand, “just” means “morally right and fair,” so while it can sometimes substitute objective, it’s not always a good fit.

Synonyms for objective meaning impartial
Match Synonym Objective example Synonym examples
Strongest Equitable Cognitive bias leads to assumption instead of objective analysis. Cognitive bias leads to assumption instead of equitable analysis.
Unbiased Our teacher emphasized the importance of understanding subjective vs objective perspectives when evaluating the survey results. Our teacher emphasized the importance of understanding subjective vs unbiased perspectives when evaluating the survey results.
Evenhanded When judging many people, one way you can stay objective is by avoiding the recency bias. When judging many people, one way you can stay evenhanded is by avoiding the recency bias.
Fair-minded Self-serving bias often prohibits us from being objective when analyzing our successes and failures. Self-serving bias often prohibits us from being fair-minded when analyzing our successes and failures.
Neutral We should be conscious of the halo effect so we make sure our assessments are objective. We should be conscious of the halo effect so we make sure our assessments are neutral.
Strong Equal Having objective expectations for all students can help teachers avoid the Pygmalion effect. Having equal expectations for all students can help teachers avoid the Pygmalion effect.
Dispassionate Adam’s objective approach helped him avoid implicating his emotions. Adam’s dispassionate approach helped him avoid implicating his emotions.
Detached An objective viewpoint enhances credibility. A detached viewpoint enhances credibility.
Weak Unprejudiced Being aware of unconscious bias can help you make objective judgments. Being aware of unconscious bias can help you make unprejudiced judgments.
Nonpartisan The former army general offered an objective assessment before the election. The former army general offered a nonpartisan assessment before the election.
Just We expect all judges to be objective when rating the performances. We expect all judges to be just when rating the performances.

The same goes for synonyms for objective when it means “empirical.” For example, “verifiable” means something is “able to be demonstrated to be true.” However, “real” means “actually existing and not imagined.” So while both are good synonyms, “verifiable” is closer to the “empirical” meaning of objective.

QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you use the best synonyms for your intended meaning.

Synonyms for objective meaning empirical
Match Synonym Objective example Synonym examples
Strongest Verifiable This study collects objective data; our survey collects opinions. This study collects verifiable data; our survey collects opinions.
Tangible Objective evidence proved his hypothesis. Tangible evidence proved his hypothesis.
Observable The scientist is looking for objective proof that this chemical is harmful. The scientist is looking for observable proof that this chemical is harmful.
Concrete This politician needs to provide more objective facts if he wants to be taken seriously. This politician needs to provide more concrete facts if he wants to be taken seriously.
Strong Factual This is an objective biography that avoids legends and opinions. This is a factual biography that avoids legends and opinions.
Demonstrable Maybe one day we’ll have objective verification that extraterrestrials exist. Maybe one day we’ll have demonstrable verification that extraterrestrials exist.
Evidence-based Your decision should be influenced by objective factors, not your intuition. Your decision should be influenced by evidence-based factors, not your intuition.
Real Objective assessments lead to accurate conclusions. Real assessments lead to accurate conclusions.

Finally, when objective means “a goal,” it doesn’t hold any connotation about positive or negative results. Therefore, a synonym like “aim,” which means “a purpose or intention” is a stronger match than one like “aspiration” which means “a hope of achieving something” (where an “achievement” would be something positive).

For example, a company may have an objective to reduce its workforce by 30% before the end of the year, but this wouldn’t be an “aspiration” for many people.

Synonyms for objective meaning goal
Match Synonym Objective example Synonym examples
Strongest Aim The objective of the initiative is to get people to recycle. The aim of the initiative is to get people to recycle.
Target The team’s objective is to reach 100 daily signups by the end of the year. The team’s target is to reach 100 daily signups by the end of the year.
Purpose The objective of our survey is to gather opinions about the new student center. The purpose of our survey is to gather opinions about the new student center.
Strong Intention My objective for today is to finish this paperwork. My intention for today is to finish this paperwork.
Intended outcome The objective of the meeting was to name the new product, but we didn’t manage to do it. The intended outcome of the meeting was to name the new product, but we didn’t manage to do it.
Mission The agent’s objective is to recover stolen documents. The agent’s mission is to recover stolen documents.
End Does the objective of this project justify the means? Does the end of this project justify the means?
Weak Plan The objective is to finish by 3 p.m. The plan is to finish by 3 p.m.
Ambition My sister’s current objective is to finish medical school. My sister’s current ambition is to finish medical school.
Aspiration Our objective is to create lasting community impact. Our aspiration is to create lasting community impact.
Note
Objective has two other less common, subject-specific meanings:

Frequently asked questions about objective synonyms

What are some antonyms for objective?

“Objective” works as an adjective meaning “impartial” or “empirical” and as a noun meaning “goal.”

Some antonyms for “objective” are:

  • Subjective
  • Biased
  • Partial
  • Prejudiced
  • Inequitable
  • Hypothetical
  • Theoretical
  • Unverifiable
  • Speculative
  • Nonempirical
  • Method
  • Means
  • Way

QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you find other antonyms for “objective” or synonyms for objective.

What’s a synonym for objective summary?

An “objective summary” is a summary of the information provided by a text without the addition of any opinions or reflections from the writer.

Some synonyms for “objective summary” are:

  • Impartial summary
  • Neutral summary
  • Unbiased summary
  • Evenhanded summary

For more synonyms of “objective summary,” choose a synonym of objective meaning “impartial” and use that adjective to describe the noun “summary.”

You can also use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to find other words to express yourself.

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Kate Santoro, BS

Kate has a BS in journalism. She has taught English as a second language in Spain to students of all ages for a decade. She also has experience in content management and marketing.