purpose 1 of 2

purpose

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun purpose contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of purpose are aim, design, end, goal, intention, intent, objective, and object. While all these words mean "what one intends to accomplish or attain," purpose suggests a more settled determination.

being successful was her purpose in life

Where would aim be a reasonable alternative to purpose?

The meanings of aim and purpose largely overlap; however, aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.

her aim was to raise film to an art form

When would design be a good substitute for purpose?

While the synonyms design and purpose are close in meaning, design implies a more carefully calculated plan.

the order of events came by accident, not design

When might end be a better fit than purpose?

While in some cases nearly identical to purpose, end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.

willing to use any means to achieve his end

When can goal be used instead of purpose?

In some situations, the words goal and purpose are roughly equivalent. However, goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.

worked years to reach her goals

When is intent a more appropriate choice than purpose?

The words intent and purpose are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.

the clear intent of the statute

When is it sensible to use intention instead of purpose?

Although the words intention and purpose have much in common, intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

announced his intention to marry

How do object and end relate to one another, in the sense of purpose?

Object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.

his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

In what contexts can objective take the place of purpose?

The synonyms objective and purpose are sometimes interchangeable, but objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.

their objective is to seize the oil fields

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 purpose
Noun
Can religion still have purpose for those of us who don’t believe? Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 1 June 2025 Zen and purpose Zheng, a first-generation Chinese immigrant, grew up on matcha, and credits the tea with helping bring her zen in an otherwise chaotic, entrepreneurial schedule. Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 31 May 2025 However, TVLine may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Being a cord-cutter isn’t an excuse for cutting yourself off from the news. Claire Franken, TVLine, 31 May 2025 This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, legal, or cryptocurrency advice. William Jones, USA Today, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for purpose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purpose
Noun
  • But Bennett’s goal would not keep the Panthers ahead for long.
    Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 7 June 2025
  • The goal is to condense a process that can take up to two years down to a handful of months.
    Stephen Clark – Jun 6, ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • Then Republicans can move on to a similarly herculean task: Building a midterm campaign around tax cuts and defending Democrats’ attacks on their health care changes.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 6 June 2025
  • The report found that instead, AI can enrich automatable jobs by freeing up employees from tedious tasks to practice more complex skills and decision making.
    Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Holmes, a retiree in her early 70s, was grieving the death of her son at the time, so her daughter planned a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to help her through the difficult period, per the filing.
    Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 6 June 2025
  • One group — which registered itself as the Maryland Environment, Labor and Industry Coalition — planned to challenge the Next Generation Energy Act, and focus its campaign on trash incinerators, which will no longer receive a renewable energy subsidy under the law.
    Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • The initial aim of the technology is to help patients with severe paralysis restore some independence.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 2 June 2025
  • Many believe the aim of his blatant attack on democracy is to escape his bribery, fraud, and breach of trust court case.
    Ehud Barak, Time, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • After spending close to $300 million to return Trump to the White House, Musk was poised to have a major role in the administration and be in position to push through regulatory changes in ways that benefited his companies.
    Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 June 2025
  • Though she's been a part of some of the entire franchise's most epic confrontations and conflagrations, Smiley, who proposed to Rossi in 2013, has played an arguably even more pivotal role in shaping the course of the Housewives' oldest installment.
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • The move was intended to boost subscriptions to then-fledgling HBO Max.
    Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025
  • Going forward, the owners intend to integrate Vinyl Me, Please with its VinylBox and VNYL brands as a sister operation specializing in premium audio.
    Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 4 June 2025
Noun
  • That has fueled suspicions that Iran isn’t being fully transparent about its intentions.
    Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
  • The production may have noble intentions in depicting domestic abuse in unflinching terms, but Wax seems to have nothing to say about it other than that what is brutal is indeed brutal.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • In 2024, sports tourism generated $114.4 billion in the United States and supported nearly 665,000 jobs, according to a study from Sports ETA—but upcoming major soccer tournaments are expected to boost those numbers for 2025 and 2026.
    Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • The front camera did a fine job of taking this selfie of my dog in low light.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 5 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purpose. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

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