1
as in resolute
fully committed to achieving a goal
a soft-spoken but purposeful criminal investigator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deliberate
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing
there's a difference between a purposeful lie and an accidental untruth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of purposeful
She was measured and purposeful—every word landing like it had been considered long before the interview began.
—
Essence, 4 Mar. 2026
Details are precise, purposeful, and restrained.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2026
Taken together, what emerged in Riyadh is a market in purposeful transition, one where the consumer is younger, more digitally fluent and more proudly local.
—Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
The writing didn’t necessarily have a purposeful driving imperative, but the show’s new cast was exceptional, and there were worse things to do than watch Kerry Bishé, Eliza Coupe, Dave Franco and Michael Mosley executing Bill Lawrence’s dialogue and wild tonal shifts.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Essence, 4 Mar. 2026
Details are precise, purposeful, and restrained.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2026
Taken together, what emerged in Riyadh is a market in purposeful transition, one where the consumer is younger, more digitally fluent and more proudly local.
—Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
The writing didn’t necessarily have a purposeful driving imperative, but the show’s new cast was exceptional, and there were worse things to do than watch Kerry Bishé, Eliza Coupe, Dave Franco and Michael Mosley executing Bill Lawrence’s dialogue and wild tonal shifts.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposeful
Adjective
-
Baking director Peter Edris is a 27-year baker who leads the kitchen in a calm but resolute manner.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The resolute tango between the personal and the practical is a hallmark of a cookbook humdinger.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
His storytelling is grounded, reflective, and visually deliberate.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Berry admirably commits to the tricky nature of playing such an emotionally wounded character, particularly in the closing moments when Leticia realizes the truth and makes a deliberate choice on where to go from there.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Photograph by Victor Llorente for The New Yorker The experimental singer-producer FKA twigs, for most of her career, has made cerebral electronic music intent on synchronizing the mind and body.—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
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For a show that’s centered around a group of women intent on challenging outdated, misogynistic norms set by the Mormon church, how did The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives get so male-centered?—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Other movements away from Chinese identity are more conscious.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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Long lines at its new Washington and New Mexico locations signal strong consumer demand for the brand, which is competing for cost-conscious fast-casual diners.—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But the leading candidates to succeed her seem determined to support the tax regardless of the consequences.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The people in charge of Florida government — which is top-to-bottom controlled by extreme elements of the GOP — are determined to turn this state into California, where voters are duped into supporting an endless stream of short-sighted tax cuts.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Grief counselors provided comfort, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes organized voluntary student prayer services.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The private safety and quality data is collected via voluntary surveys sent to hospitals.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But the most important and advantageous potential outcome of the conflict by far would be a decisive uprising by the Iranian people themselves.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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Reneau was the catalyst of the run, opening the final 20 minutes with seven straight points, and Dante Allen finished off the decisive 10-0 run with an emphatic and-one slam.—
Hunter Bailey,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Tuesday’s game featured intentional clock-stopping, game-extending fouls by the Heat.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
All actions have consequences and some are obviously intentional and predictable.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposeful. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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