as in intentionally
with full awareness of what one is doing
the real estate agent purposely withheld information that would have discouraged us from buying the property
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Recent Examples of purposely
With three games remaining in the regular season and Mahomes sidelined because of a knee injury, some fans are hoping the team will purposely tank to help its draft position.
—
Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Dec. 2025
Stolen cargo off the backs of trucks, awaiting loading, being purposely sent to the wrong location, or being ambushed at stoplights leads to higher insurance costs for shippers and higher expenses for companies moving their products, according to Spear.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 17 Dec. 2025
She shouldn't be forced to have a shitty weekend to please people that purposely excluded her.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Intoxication Consuming large amounts of nutmeg, or purposely using it for recreational drug purposes, is a dangerous practice.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purposely
Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Dec. 2025
Stolen cargo off the backs of trucks, awaiting loading, being purposely sent to the wrong location, or being ambushed at stoplights leads to higher insurance costs for shippers and higher expenses for companies moving their products, according to Spear.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 17 Dec. 2025
She shouldn't be forced to have a shitty weekend to please people that purposely excluded her.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Intoxication Consuming large amounts of nutmeg, or purposely using it for recreational drug purposes, is a dangerous practice.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purposely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposely
Adverb
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Arson – To unlawfully and intentionally damage or attempt to damage any real or personal property of another person or entity by fire or incendiary device.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Jan. 2026
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As a piano man tinkers in the corner, tables of Europeans switching effortlessly between languages and wearing outfits that seem intentionally packed for cocktail hour sip martinis and nibble olives.—
Erin Florio,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Shell, who pleaded not guilty at his arraignment last week in Philadelphia federal court, is one of more than a dozen college athletes accused of accepting bribes from gamblers to take a dive and deliberately tank their performance on the court.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
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Just ordinary skills, practiced deliberately, in full view of the people counting on you.—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purposely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposely. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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