purposeful

adjective

pur·​pose·​ful ˈpər-pəs-fəl 

1

: having a purpose: such as

a

: meaningful

purposeful activities

b

: intentional

purposeful ambiguity

2

: full of determination

was soft-spoken but purposeful

purposefully

ˈpər-pəs-fə-lē 

adverb

purposefulness noun

Synonyms

• bent (on or upon)
• bound
• decisive
• determined
• do-or-die
• firm
• hell-bent (on or upon)
• intent
• out
• resolute
• resolved
• set
• single-minded

Examples of purposeful in a Sentence

a soft-spoken but purposeful criminal investigator

there's a difference between a purposeful lie and an accidental untruth

Recent Examples on the Web

Hit Me Hard and Soft feels like a purposeful progression from the unabashed eccentricity of When We All Fall Asleep, and the confessional dreaminess of Happier Than Ever. —Stephen Daw, Billboard, 17 May 2024

Photo : Nick Dimbleby, courtesy of Morgan Motor Company The stunning wheels are more closely and concentrically enclosed by the arches, lending the car a more planted and purposeful stance compared to some of its Morgan siblings. —Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 16 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1