SINCE 1828

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purposive

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adjective pur·po·sive \ ˈpər-pə-siv , (ˌ)pər-ˈpō- \

Definition of purposive

1 :serving or effecting a useful function though not as a result of planning or design

2 :having or tending to fulfill a conscious purpose or design :purposeful

—

purposively

adverb

—

purposiveness

noun

Examples of purposive in a Sentence

facial tics and other unconscious movements that one would not normally call purposive actions

First Known Use of purposive

1849

purposive Synonyms

Synonyms

conscious, deliberate, intended, knowing, purposeful, intentional, set, voluntary, willed, willful (or wilful), witting

Antonyms

nondeliberate, nonpurposive, unintentional

Related Words

designed, planned; conscious; advised, calculated, considered, measured, reasoned, studied, thoughtful, weighed; premeditated, premeditative, prepense; discretionary, elective, optional, volunteer

Near Antonyms

inadvertent, unwitting; accidental, chance, haphazard, hit-or-miss, incidental, random; aimless, desultory, purposeless; abrupt, impetuous, sudden; coerced, forced, involuntary; compulsory, mandatory, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, ordered, required; casual; extemporaneous, impromptu, impulsive, instinctive, spontaneous, unforced, unpremeditated

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Examples: purposive in a Sentence