1
as in intentionally
with full awareness of what one is doing
he purposefully chose the more difficult route to the mountain summit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hard
with great effort or determination
strode purposefully into the boss's office, determined to ask for a raise
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of purposefully
The in-game map also purposefully obscures some of the game's secret nooks and crannies, which can only be found with careful observation (or a handy walkthrough).
—
ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025
In some instances, these violations can be chalked up to pilot or operator error, but in recent years the regularity of violations has led many observers in the West to conclude Russia is purposefully violating allied airspace.
—John Deni, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
However, other social media users took to the platform to suggest the posts were purposefully misleading.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Matt ultimately decides to go with another director and purposefully buys Scorsese's script — meant to be his final film — with the sole intention of killing the project.
—Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
But here, the outward charm feels hollow, purposefully so.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2025
There is a world in which the actress once known as America’s sweetheart can turn the tide her way, with voters nominating her for Best Actress as a vote of confidence toward her purposefully polarizing character.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025
However, a source told The Mirror that the reconciliation is indeed happening between father and son in September, but William is purposefully avoiding his brother at all costs.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 29 Aug. 2025
Jim Heininger is the founder of Rebranding Experts, the only firm purposefully designed to rebrand organizations successfully.
—Jim Heininger, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025
In some instances, these violations can be chalked up to pilot or operator error, but in recent years the regularity of violations has led many observers in the West to conclude Russia is purposefully violating allied airspace.
—John Deni, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
However, other social media users took to the platform to suggest the posts were purposefully misleading.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Matt ultimately decides to go with another director and purposefully buys Scorsese's script — meant to be his final film — with the sole intention of killing the project.
—Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
But here, the outward charm feels hollow, purposefully so.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2025
There is a world in which the actress once known as America’s sweetheart can turn the tide her way, with voters nominating her for Best Actress as a vote of confidence toward her purposefully polarizing character.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025
However, a source told The Mirror that the reconciliation is indeed happening between father and son in September, but William is purposefully avoiding his brother at all costs.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 29 Aug. 2025
Jim Heininger is the founder of Rebranding Experts, the only firm purposefully designed to rebrand organizations successfully.
—Jim Heininger, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposefully
Adverb
-
Giants pitcher Justin Verlander, who had just allowed four straight batters to hit the ball at least 97 MPH, intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
With a base open, Melvin elected to intentionally walk one MVP in Shohei Ohtani to get to another MVP in Betts.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The bristles are neither too floppy nor too stiff, neither too long nor too short, and are cut to the perfect rounded shape that’s just right for swirling pigment over the apples or spreading it along your cheekbones—without having to work too hard for a completely natural finish.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The Eagles went chasing on a third-and-8 situation at the Chiefs’ 33 at the start of the third quarter, and Smith went down hard after a deep pass from Hurts fell incomplete along the left sideline.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Bluesky, part of the decentralized internet, is slower paced and caters to niche interests, rewarding internecine fights over minutiae, whereas X is deliberately chaotic, encouraging the gathering of follower-armies and ideological insult-comedy for an audience that may be largely made up of bots.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
10 Sep. 2025
-
People can deliberately cultivate more conscientiousness, boost their sociability or soften their neurotic edges.—
Dave Winsborough,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Hydrolyzed proteins replenish lost amino acids that intensively nourish and maintain hair in a healthy, balanced state.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Often, the soil was intensively and industrially farmed only a few years ago.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The new 12-night journey will launch in the summer of 2027 aboard the company's ice-breaking Le Commandant Charcot ship and is purposely designed to meet demand for a shorter cruise that still celebrates polar exploration, Ponant shared with Travel + Leisure.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Mile Elam, who had made the trip to West Tennessee from Bella Vista, Arkansas, purposely sat in a back row of the news conference as not to draw attention to himself.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
The Tennessean,
9 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The Royals demonstrated patience and diligently worked favorable counts before landing the knockout blow.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Since taking the role, Kennedy has worked diligently to dismantle the country's premier vaccination infrastructure, as well as directly hinder access to lifesaving shots.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Armani was an intensely private man but had a longstanding personal relationship with his business partner, the architect, fashion designer and businessman Sergio Galeotti, who died of complications from AIDS in 1985.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
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These dangers could be exacerbated by workplace conditions and policies that don’t allow for behavioral changes that could help regulate body temperatures, such as taking short breaks or working less intensely.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Cohn listens intently, chiming in every so often to throw softball questions that set his team up to shine.—
Katherine Fung,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The Catalan giants were keen and, in Zwolle, Reijnders’ old team-mates followed the story intently.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purposefully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposefully. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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