purposeful

adjective

pur·pose·ful | \ ˈpər-pəs-fəl

Definition of purposeful

1 : having a purpose: such as

a : meaningful purposeful activities

b : intentional purposeful ambiguity

2 : full of determination was soft-spoken but purposeful

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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

These spaces can still be functional and purposeful. — Cathy Hobbs, The Seattle Times, "Do’s and don’ts for adding light in a windowless room," 11 Apr. 2019 And of course, purposeful forgetting doesn’t include the kind of extensive memory loss that comes with dementia or similar health problems. — Sue Shellenbarger, WSJ, "Why Forgetfulness Might Actually Help You," 22 Jan. 2019 Like the DS 90X, the 450R has that purposeful motocross look, wide and low and bereft of racks, hitches or any suggestion that its mission is anything other than fun. — Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, "The Great Big Youth ATV Test," 25 Mar. 2019 Smith wanted to ensure that every aspect of Phluid, from the physical space to the brands the store carries, was purposeful, impactful, and conscientious. — Charlotte Diamond, Teen Vogue, "This Gender-Neutral Store Aims to Create a Safe Space For Its Customer," 20 Mar. 2019 Collina Strada’s prismatic gazes celebrated creative freedom and imperfection while still feeling purposeful and fun. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "This Tie-Dye Eye Makeup Will Take You From Fashion Week to Summer Music Festivals," 8 Feb. 2019 Many forms of yoga utilize specific breathing techniques, teaching you how to breathe in a purposeful way. — Laura Schwecherl, SELF, "Why All Runners Should Consider Adding Yoga to Their Routines," 15 Jan. 2019 Having facts, versus anecdotal evidence, is important to creating purposeful design solutions. — Diana Budds, Curbed, "The future of urban mobility will be shaped by these six issues," 18 Dec. 2018 Is this a purposeful Easter egg, a treat planned to delight the most avid royal watchers? — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Did Kate Middleton Wear the Same Thing in This Year's Christmas Card as in the One from 2015?," 14 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'purposeful.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.