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 of purposeful

• 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

And unlike many palettes that sacrifice texture range for portability, Embers manages to include nine shades that feel distinct and purposeful—no throwaway pans here. —Samantha Leal, StyleCaster, 12 Nov. 2025

Fernandes’ willingness to play purposeful forward passes and drive ahead with the ball helped bridge that gap. —Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025

The result is a feed that feels both personal and purposeful — a space where audiences can explore, not just scroll. —Partner Content, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025

The car boasts aggressive dynamic features, which lend it a sharp and purposeful design. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1