Synonyms of objective

objective 1 of 3

noun (1)

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 3

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

objectivity

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˌäb-ˌjek-ˈti-və-tē 

as in neutrality

lack of favoritism toward one side or another

the teacher's objectivity would be seriously compromised if his own child were placed in the class

Synonyms & Similar Words

• neutrality
• objectiveness
• neutralism
• impartiality
• fairness
• evenhandedness
• nonpartisanship
• equity
• disinterest
• disinterestedness
• justice
• detachment
• tolerance
• fair-mindedness
• indifference
• unconcern
• apathy
• broad-mindedness
• open-mindedness
• straddling
• fence-sitting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bias
• prejudice
• favor
• partisanship
• partiality
• favoritism
• subjectivity
• chauvinism
• nepotism
• one-sidedness
• tendency
• nonobjectivity
• inclination
• predisposition
• subjectiveness
• predilection
• propensity
• proclivity
• penchant
• bent
• prejudgment
• preconception
• leaning

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of objective

Noun

Continuing the theme of rapid response in space, the Space Force has awarded Firefly Aerospace a nearly $22 million contract to launch a separate mission pursuing objectives similar to the one booked to fly with Rocket Lab. —Ars Technica, 21 Feb. 2025

Political strategist Steve Bannon, who advised Trump during his first term, has openly discussed overwhelming the media as a key priority to advance right-wing objectives. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 21 Feb. 2025

Adjective

The development of the situation also proved that China's proposition is objective, impartial, rational and pragmatic, and represents the prevailing consensus in the international community. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025

Most people tend to assume that their knowledge and ideas are based on a rational, objective analysis of information. —Anne Toomey, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2025

Noun

Various outfits, positioning themselves as neutral guides to the marketplace of ideas, now tout evaluations of news organizations’ trustworthiness, but relying on these requires trusting in the quality and objectivity of the evaluation. —Fergus McIntosh, The New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2025

Look no further than Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos’ bloodless spiking of an editorial endorsing Kamala Harris in the name of greater objectivity. —J.t. Barbarese, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2025