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

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

Gaines then shapes a melody, builds a chord structure and scores the automatic composition for a nine-piece ensemble, in what ends up sounding like a purposeful Modernist composition. —Adam Bradley, New York Times, 16 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1