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
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Recent Examples of purposeful
Leo Rising April is a big travel month for you, and the energy surrounding it is purposeful rather than leisurely.
—
Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
There’s no romantic chemistry between Rogali and White, but that may be purposeful.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
The hard part is getting cells in a dish to do anything purposeful.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2026
Springsteen hinted that the set lists for the upcoming shows will be purposeful and meet the moment at a time when many Americans are struggling to put food on the table as gas and commodities prices spike due to Trump’s now monthlong war in Iran.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
There’s no romantic chemistry between Rogali and White, but that may be purposeful.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
The hard part is getting cells in a dish to do anything purposeful.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2026
Springsteen hinted that the set lists for the upcoming shows will be purposeful and meet the moment at a time when many Americans are struggling to put food on the table as gas and commodities prices spike due to Trump’s now monthlong war in Iran.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposeful
Adjective
-
The display showed, on the left, the face of a gray-haired man with a resolute expression, his neck vanishing into a white collar and dark suit.—
Simon Akam,
Vanity Fair,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Whichever team is more resolute in executing its game plan will likely move on to the Final Four.—
Christian Babcock,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Her mother, a meticulous apothecary, left a notebook with deliberate mistakes.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Sabotage is the deliberate subversion of a nation’s resources.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Trump seems intent on seizing Iran’s Kharg Island, from where Iranian oil is exported.—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
5 Apr. 2026
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One defining moment was when a teenage Johnson and his father were in a comic shop and Johnson was intent on buying a copy of Battle Chasers, a comic known for shapely and busty heroines and plenty of violence.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But today, with the rise of semi-private airlines and new apps that simplify the booking experience, the industry has become more accessible for value-conscious, high-net-worth travelers.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Apr. 2026
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Goldhaber says the mask was a collaboration between himself, Montgomery and costume designer Lauren Bott, and hinged on a conscious limitation.—
William Earl,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Santa Monica Pier was temporarily evacuated on Saturday afternoon as police investigated what was determined to be a non-credible bomb threat.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
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The determined plant can grow in many conditions, including sun or shade and wet or dry soil, displacing native species, disrupting local ecosystems, and even degrading riverbanks.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
With some companies pausing travel to risky areas until further notice, voluntary flight cancellations on Europe to Asia routes more than doubled in the first week of March, according to data from travel agency Perk.—
Sydney Goh,
CNBC,
4 Apr. 2026
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Overall, 92,000 jobs were lost, and the voluntary quitting rate dropped — seen as a measure of employees’ confidence in their ability to find new work.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Either way, this decisive energy favors clear asks and tangible action over chasing perfect conditions.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The Aggies lost Game 2, and the decisive Game 3.—
Mac Engel
April 8,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Australian law defines war crime murder as the intentional killing in a context of armed conflict of a person who is not taking an active part in the hostilities, such as a civilian, prisoner of war or a wounded soldier.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
This is seemingly an intentional move by the Heat, as Miami had been outscored by six points per 100 possessions in the 249 minutes that Herro and Powell played together this season ahead of Tuesday’s contest in Toronto.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposeful. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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