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

• resolute
• intent
• determined
• decisive
• positive
• confident

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

The purposeful abandonment or destruction of multimillion-dollar satellites and instruments is essentially unprecedented, scientists told CNN. —Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2025

This approach not only keeps the discussion aligned with your needs but also ensures the other person feels their contributions are appreciated and purposeful. —Melody Wilding, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Alongside this back-to-school offer, Google also rolled out a student-friendly Gemini tool that promotes purposeful learning. —PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2025

The fit was minimal but purposeful, styled to play off the relaxed silhouette of her Misa Los Angeles midi dress. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1