as in contents
the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action
was able to give the purport of the governor's speech in a few words
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in intends
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
do you purport to spend the rest of your life on that couch, or do you think you might get a job someday?
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in alleges
to state as a fact usually forcefully
he purports to be an expert in criminalistics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of purports
Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Instead, Trump purports to have valid cause.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2026
The law applies to state and local agencies and purports to cover federal officers operating in California, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who have worn masks during recent neighborhood enforcement actions.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
The dissent’s methodology seems like an instance of textualism, the preferred statutory interpretation theory of most conservatives, which purports to ignore legislative purpose.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 14 May 2026
Is there an extra responsibility toward representation when casting media that purports to represent reality versus casting something scripted?
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 7 May 2026
The dress is presented alongside a 2004 Adam McEwen painting that purports to be an obituary for Kidman, a co-host of tonight’s Met Gala.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 May 2026
The Investigation Discovery series purports to expose the underbelly of pop culture's most infamous moments through in-depth interviews and industry analysis.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Remotasks purports to pay freelancers to train AI models.
—Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
The agreement purports to provide a solution amenable to both Kolter and the Gateway Estates Park Condominium Association.
—Larry Seward, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
The key is the enigmatic Porcelain Khaw, who purports to communicate across the barrier for a terrible price.
—Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
Video shows corpses outside capital Meanwhile, video circulating online purports to show dozens of bodies in a morgue on the outskirts of Iran’s capital.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Instead, Trump purports to have valid cause.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2026
The law applies to state and local agencies and purports to cover federal officers operating in California, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who have worn masks during recent neighborhood enforcement actions.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Verb
The dissent’s methodology seems like an instance of textualism, the preferred statutory interpretation theory of most conservatives, which purports to ignore legislative purpose.
—Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
The dissent’s methodology seems like an instance of textualism, the preferred statutory interpretation theory of most conservatives, which purports to ignore legislative purpose.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 14 May 2026
Is there an extra responsibility toward representation when casting media that purports to represent reality versus casting something scripted?
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 7 May 2026
The dress is presented alongside a 2004 Adam McEwen painting that purports to be an obituary for Kidman, a co-host of tonight’s Met Gala.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 May 2026
The Investigation Discovery series purports to expose the underbelly of pop culture's most infamous moments through in-depth interviews and industry analysis.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Remotasks purports to pay freelancers to train AI models.
—Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
The agreement purports to provide a solution amenable to both Kolter and the Gateway Estates Park Condominium Association.
—Larry Seward, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
The key is the enigmatic Porcelain Khaw, who purports to communicate across the barrier for a terrible price.
—Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purports
Noun
-
Cask investing involves buying an oak barrel filled with Scotch — either shortly after the spirit's distillation or having already aged — and allowing its contents to mature over a period of 10 to 20 years, before selling it on.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
9 May 2026
-
Scarnecchia claimed that McDermitt and other co-workers had even stolen Fox's phone at work and searched its contents, which included graphic photos of her.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Our committee intends to determine who was responsible and whether additional reforms or enforcement mechanisms are necessary to protect the public trust and prevent this from ever happening again.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
-
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary intends to resign on Tuesday, two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The affidavit further alleges that the girl told her father that Diaz touched her inappropriately, and that Diaz left and went to a nearby hotel.—
Charmaine Patterson,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
-
The indictment alleges the proceeds were used to further TdA’s criminal goals.—
Robert McGreevy,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Your senses become incredibly sharp after alternating heat and cold.—
Brad Japhe,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
But these same buildings have another set of qualities, which are not visible to the senses.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Harbaugh plans to run a grueling training camp to try to better prepare the Giants for their early season games, but reversing a decade-plus of bad organizational habits and starts might take time.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Law Department plans to urge the City Council Finance Committee to advance the deal Monday for Arnold Day, who confessed to two separate 1991 slayings.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Yet convenience has not come at the price of comfort, insists designer Mikael Axelsson, who set out to better the coziness of conventional foam fillings.—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
Hao insists philanthropy alone won’t solve academic medicine’s financial and structural challenges.—
Lisa Chambers,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Sarah Eddy, a second lawyer for OpenAI and its executives, said that Musk was lying to the jury about his true intentions.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
-
Tennessee advanced a map that would break up the state’s only majority-Black district, and southern states that had already held primaries declared their intentions to redraw their maps in the near future.—
Hanna Rosin,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The 4,305-square-foot location nestled in Via Signorelli — a 10-minute walk from the city’s ADI Design Museum — aims to house all the activities of the firm under one roof, as the company has pivoted its business following investment from Gyrus Capital last year.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
13 May 2026
-
Through an array of educational programming, events and activities for both children and adults, the Garden aims to create, share and apply plant wisdom to the world, according to the news release.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purports.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purports. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
