purposeful

adjective

pur·​pose·​ful ˈpər-pəs-fəl How to pronounce purposeful (audio)
1
: having a purpose: such as
a
: meaningful
purposeful activities
b
: intentional
purposeful ambiguity
2
: full of determination
was soft-spoken but purposeful
purposefully adverb
purposefulness noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The car boasts aggressive dynamic features, which lend it a sharp and purposeful design. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025 Whether that is a shortcoming of the script (Ramsay wrote the film, along with Enda Walsh and Alice Birch; it’s based on Ariana Harwicz’s novel) or purposeful by Ramsay in an attempt to keep the lines between reality and depressive fantasy blurred is unclear. Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025 While Charlamagne might light the spark, Bishop keeps the fire burning — overseeing strategy, partnerships, and the delicate art of keeping a creative network profitable and purposeful. Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2025 Experts still recommend focusing on total daily steps, but adding a couple of purposeful walks can give your fitness an extra boost. Jamie Ducharme, Health, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for purposeful

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of purposeful was in 1853

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Cite this Entry

“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purposeful. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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