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

The company might assert the bidding process was unfair as a result of purposeful deception, a type of argument captured in a fraudulent misrepresentation claim. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 July 2024

The lawsuit describes the decision to allow people to go onto the property as purposeful contamination. —James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2024

This year’s top hotels juggle urban sophistication with a purposeful interior design, from delicately elegant to breezily contemporary. —Samantha Falewée, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024

What can seem desultory to the point of randomness is actually quite purposeful. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1