purposive

pur·po·sive

adj \ˈpər-pə-siv, (ˌ)pər-ˈpō-\

Definition of PURPOSIVE

1

: serving or effecting a useful function though not as a result of planning or design

2

: having or tending to fulfill a conscious purpose or design : purposeful

— pur·po·sive·ly adverb

— pur·po·sive·ness noun

Examples of PURPOSIVE

1. <facial tics and other unconscious movements that one would not normally call purposive actions>

First Known Use of PURPOSIVE

1849

Related to PURPOSIVE

Synonyms: conscious, deliberate, intended, knowing, purposeful, intentional, set, voluntary, willed, willful (or wilful), witting

Antonyms: nondeliberate, nonpurposive, unintentional

Related Words: designed, planned; conscious; advised, calculated, considered, measured, reasoned, studied, thoughtful, weighed; premeditated, premeditative, prepense; discretionary, elective, optional, volunteer

Near Antonyms: inadvertent, unwitting; accidental, chance, haphazard, hit-or-miss, incidental, random; aimless, desultory, purposeless; abrupt, impetuous, sudden; coerced, forced, involuntary; compulsory, mandatory, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, ordered, required; casual; extemporaneous, impromptu, impulsive, instinctive, spontaneous, unforced, unpremeditated

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Rhymes with PURPOSIVE

corrosive, erosive, explosive, implosive