purposeful

adjective

pur·​pose·​ful ˈpər-pəs-fəl How to pronounce purposeful (audio)
Synonyms of purposefulnext
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.
Molinaroli describes his post-CEO shift not as a retreat but as a purposeful redirection. Nia Bowers, Ascend Agency, 20 Feb. 2026 What emerged was a season defined by ease and quiet confidence, where modern dressing feels instinctive, purposeful and deeply personal. Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026 These were among the first machines whose actions appeared purposeful to an observer. Deb Roy, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2026 Plenty of moments on The Fall-Off remind of the hunger of his early mixtapes, the purposeful thrills of his 2010s hits, or even the misguided zaniness of KOD, though none materialize in meaningful doses. Benny Sun, Pitchfork, 10 Feb. 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purposeful. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.

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