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
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
The reporting was powerful, the conversations were purposeful, and the beauty and fashion were unmatched.
—
Essence, 31 Jan. 2026
Was that purposeful, given that everyone loved that scene from last season?
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
In the competitive landscape of selective admissions, purposeful extracurricular participation has become a key indicator of a student’s readiness.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The square to Uranus means plans may change quickly, but those changes are purposeful.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
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Essence, 31 Jan. 2026
Was that purposeful, given that everyone loved that scene from last season?
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
In the competitive landscape of selective admissions, purposeful extracurricular participation has become a key indicator of a student’s readiness.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The square to Uranus means plans may change quickly, but those changes are purposeful.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Cite this Entry
“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purposeful. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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