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
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Recent Examples of purposeful
His unimaginable situation leaves him with no obvious path forward — a purposeful choice by Ingelsby for a character who’s literally trained in trauma recovery.
—
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
Was that purposeful, or was that separate from the whole thing?
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
His selection was as purposeful of a pick as the Chiefs have made in recent years.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025
For Xi, China’s longest-serving and most powerful leader in decades, the symbolism – and its timing – will be purposeful.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
Was that purposeful, or was that separate from the whole thing?
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
His selection was as purposeful of a pick as the Chiefs have made in recent years.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025
For Xi, China’s longest-serving and most powerful leader in decades, the symbolism – and its timing – will be purposeful.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposeful
Adjective
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These days, Pynchon is a resolute New Yorker.—
John Lopez,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Sep. 2025
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Their response to the player’s incendiary statement last week was to release their own extraordinary one and become even more resolute in their position regarding a transfer.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Understand who holds the greatest influence over promotion decisions in your organization and make a deliberate effort to be visible to them.—
Roberta Matuson,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Acutis' canonization marks a deliberate Vatican effort to present contemporary, relatable holy figures who can speak to younger generations about faith lived in the digital age.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This ruthless cartel is intent on cashing in, permeating our communities with their poison, with no regard to human suffering.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
9 Sep. 2025
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Today, many companies seem intent on convincing consumers of debit’s coolness.—
Michael Waters,
The Atlantic,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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That means staying alert to how AI systems influence our thinking and making conscious choices about when and how to engage with them.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Sullivan believes Fruitist’s market opportunity is strong as consumers become more conscious about health and are willing to pay for premium products.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The training highlighted how quickly multiple dangers can erupt at once, and how determined authorities are to prepare for the next flashpoint.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
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According to several sources to RadarOnline, Prince William is determined to remove his uncle from the Firm.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Code does not distinguish between voluntary and involuntary expatriation.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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The 30-year-old accepted a voluntary provisional suspension on June 2, which will now expire on April 2, 2026 following the outcome of European football’s governing body.—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In other words, the health of the system is decisive.—
Sandro da Silva,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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But even before Tyler Stephenson’s two-run homer off Robert Suarez broke a tie in the top of the ninth inning and held as the decisive hit in a 4-2 Reds victory, something happened that practically rendered the final score a footnote.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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As Platt reminds us, moving toward a healthier relationship with ownership means reclaiming our power by being intentional.—
Essence,
Essence,
12 Sep. 2025
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The researchers couldn’t fully separate the effects of intentional versus unintentional weight loss.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposeful. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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