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 of purposeful

• resolute
• intent
• determined
• decisive
• positive
• confident

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 key is separating purposeful friction from friction that persists because nobody addressed the process. — Tal Dagan, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

He’ll be assisted by his pal, the somewhat more purposeful Lietenant Sam Weinberg (Nick Blaemire) and the passionately inquisitive internal affairs officer Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway (Rodriguez). — Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2026

And while that attention is for, in my opinion, all the wrong reasons, maybe, just maybe, this is all a part of some genius and purposeful marketing plan by the league. — Patricia Babcock McGraw Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Arlington National Cemetery rests in purposeful darkness at night. — Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1