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
Ohio law defines murder as the purposeful causing of a death, while the lesser charge of reckless murder means the defendant acted recklessly in causing a death.
—
ABC News, 7 May 2026
Teyana Taylor, ever the purposeful center of attention, donned a silver foil fringe look by Haider Ackermann for Tom Ford, but overdid it with a matching wig, converting her into a tinsel tree.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 May 2026
Wright suggests using wooden trays or boxes as purposeful accents.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 4 May 2026
Failure is one thing, purposeful failure is not, nor will it be allowed to flourish in California.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
ABC News, 7 May 2026
Teyana Taylor, ever the purposeful center of attention, donned a silver foil fringe look by Haider Ackermann for Tom Ford, but overdid it with a matching wig, converting her into a tinsel tree.
—Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 May 2026
Wright suggests using wooden trays or boxes as purposeful accents.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 4 May 2026
Failure is one thing, purposeful failure is not, nor will it be allowed to flourish in California.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposeful
Adjective
-
Images of the shelter slipped the Russian choke hold to appear on the world’s screens—intact and unbowed amid the rubble, like a temple time-transported from some more ancient siege, the faces of those within drained but resolute.—
James Verini,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
-
Many have affirmed their resolute support for Stewart despite any allegations.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Design features in the rooms The rooms offer a deliberate exhale after the exuberance of the communal spaces.—
Bridget Mills-Powell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 May 2026
-
Starmer's former deputy Angela Rayner said on Thursday that she had been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing over her tax affairs, boosting her prospects for another potential leadership bid.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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The result is a fiery and impassioned offering that finds the veteran fully engaged and intent on proving no chinks have been left in his armor despite his tenuous back-and-forth with his Compton counterpart.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
15 May 2026
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The defendants’ attorneys contend that the government doesn’t have the evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there was intent to join a criminal racketeering conspiracy.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
When customers are highly price-conscious, the instinct is to justify your cost.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Even as chicken thigh sales continue to climb, health-conscious Americans remain obsessed with the boneless, skinless chicken breast.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
The newsroom is split between those determined to suppress the truth and those who insist on publishing it.—
Emiliano de Pablos,
Variety,
16 May 2026
-
At the time, the mother told officers Noel was staying with family in Mexico, which Everman’s then-Police Chief Craig Spencer has said was later determined to be untrue.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Housing First programs provide immediate, low-barrier housing with voluntary services.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
In the letter to Yale, Dhillon alleged the New Haven, Connecticut, school was violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting discrimination and said the DOJ is seeking to enter into a voluntary resolution agreement with the university.—
Dave Collins,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
During my lifetime there have been 55 years in which my country has engaged in prolonged and endless conflicts or wars, few of which have brought a decisive victory.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
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What initially looked like a decisive campaign by the US and Israel has evolved into a stagnant and prolonged conflict, with the threat of further escalation hanging over the region.—
Amena Bakr,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
The variety of makers, dealers, and products on-hand was very much intentional.—
Victoria Gomelsky,
Robb Report,
13 May 2026
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Despite the criticism, DNC national finance co-chair Chris Lowe said the cash disparity is the result of an intentional strategy Martin outlined when running for chair and has executed since taking over the building.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposeful. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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