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purposeful

adjective

ˈpər-pəs-fəl How to pronounce purposeful (audio)
Definition of purposefulnext
1
as in resolute
fully committed to achieving a goal a soft-spoken but purposeful criminal investigator

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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 purposeful Musk himself shows up as an AI avatar — purposeful irony alert! — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2026 These shifts are shaping our product development around sharper, more purposeful assortments, while growing consumer interest in wellness and active lifestyles is opening adjacent opportunities. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026 Because of this purposeful inaccuracy, she will be reported to the FCC for rebuke or punishment. — Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Once considered a superfluous step, face mists have since become a more purposeful—and enjoyable—part of our skin care routines. — Jenny Jin, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposeful
  1. resolute
  2. deliberate
  3. intent
  4. conscious
  5. determined
  6. voluntary
  7. decisive
  8. intentional
Adjective
  • There are many reasons to love this story, not least because of its resolute universalism.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • But by the time officials reach the Premier League, most are resilient and resolute enough to set aside what has gone before and referee what is put in front of them.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of resolute
Adjective
  • Poetry tends to be differentiated from prose by a deliberate organization of language that’s not determined by the page itself.
    — Amy Cannon, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026
  • This further reinforces the need to make deliberate choices about what to build, what to license and where to focus engineering resources to create the most value.
    — Iri Trashanski, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of deliberate
Adjective
  • Most concertgoers didn’t want to talk about the political backdrop of the show, and were only intent on making it inside.
    — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2026
  • With 11 days between games, McVay, his staff and the players are intent on avoiding a repeat performance.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of intent
Adjective
  • By putting the spa before the staterooms, this design flips the superyacht script from conspicuous consumption to conscious longevity.
    — Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2026
  • For years, Connecticut’s position atop the list of states with the priciest electric bills has served as an election-year mantra for Republicans and other critics of the state’s climate-conscious energy strategy.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of conscious
Adjective
  • Rounding out their trio is Hazel (Kennedi Reece), a sweet, naive young woman, completely sheltered by her conservative upbringing but determined to follow her Michelle Obama dreams.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Brooke poured her heart out in the wake of here father’s death, which was later determined to be caused by a heart attack.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of determined
Adjective
  • The Show-Me State is also one of 24 states that doesn’t have right-to-work laws, which is key to guarantee union membership and financial support are voluntary for workers.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Given that personal insistence, the election – in which 49 veterans of the Ukraine war were elected – is more likely to be used as evidence that Russia rewards its soldiers with plum political jobs, as a means of boosting voluntary recruitment.
    — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of voluntary
Adjective
  • As the margin for error narrows, management quality will become decisive.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The declaration sees Carag’s battle against his former mentor enter a decisive phase.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of decisive
Adjective
  • In his dissent, Scalia argued that the ESA was written narrowly to prohibit the intentional hunting and killing of vulnerable animals, not to broadly protect species at the population level.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Punkt pairs intentional use with privacy, while Mudita centers mindful living and E Ink displays.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of intentional

Browse Nearby Words

purposed
purposeful
purposefully
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Cite this Entry

“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposeful. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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