single-minded

adjective

sin·​gle-mind·​ed ˌsiŋ-gəl-ˈmīn-dəd How to pronounce single-minded (audio)
ˈsiŋ-gəl-ˌmīn-
: having one driving purpose or resolve : determined, dedicated
single-mindedly adverb
single-mindedness noun

Examples of single-minded in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Edelstein has condensed the three plays into two and is focusing on the characters’ quest to achieve power at any cost, and how that single-minded purpose can lead to chaos, violence and anarchy. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2023 For a long time, Novo Nordisk was almost single-minded in its focus on tackling diabetes. Eshe Nelson, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2023 Pursuing her goal with a single-minded intent leads Rose into a strange alliance with obstetrics nurse Celie (Judy Reyes), her temperamental and professional opposite. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2023 Critics assailed the organization’s single-minded focus on levees as a form of flood control rather than a more holistic mix that included additional measures like floodways and channel clearings. Geoff Dembicki, The New Republic, 2 Aug. 2023 The single-minded focus on bringing inflation to 2% ignores that growing volume of data suggesting the global economy is already in or rapidly approaching recession, according to JPM AM. WSJ, 10 July 2023 There’s something unprecedentedly freaky and single-minded about that. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 10 July 2023 But single-minded, overarching conceptual euphoria risks leading these experts to overestimate the impact of their own technology (perhaps intentionally so, but more on that later) and dismiss its potential downsides and operational challenges. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 28 June 2023 His candidacy is being promoted by right-wing forces with the single-minded objective of embarrassing Joe Biden in the New Hampshire primary and other early contests. Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 26 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'single-minded.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of single-minded was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near single-minded

Cite this Entry

“Single-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single-minded. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

single-minded

adjective
sin·​gle-mind·​ed
-ˈmīn-dəd
: having only one purpose : determined
a single-minded devotion to stopping crime
single-mindedly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on single-minded

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