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
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Recent Examples of purposefully
One of those blew up on its landing attempt while another was purposefully expended to get its payload to a higher orbital insertion.
—
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
The agency previously prided itself on the program’s impartiality and, in an effort to protect its science from the influence of industry, purposefully kept the program separate from the agency offices that craft regulation.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 1 May 2026
Valentino Cash Amil, 30, was accused of purposefully using his 2024 Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan to strike Dannielle Spillman, 74, outside a gas station on April 13.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
When public outcry over the Wuhan lab and gain-of-function research increased, the indictment claims that Morens and co-conspirators purposefully moved government communications to private emails in order to hide them from the public.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Bain walked purposefully, never slowing, never stopping — not even to size himself up in his new Bucs hat in the mirror — before striding onstage for a hug with the commissioner.
—Zak Keefer, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Sometimes, creators will purposefully place a shocking item in the frame to stir up engagement.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
The simulated winds, which in a recent test purposefully fluctuated between 30 and 55 mph (50 to 90 kph), continually pushed the flames toward the home.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
But where many single-color canvases from the era were characterized by the smooth, even application of paint, Hayward purposefully left his materials chunky and thick.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
The agency previously prided itself on the program’s impartiality and, in an effort to protect its science from the influence of industry, purposefully kept the program separate from the agency offices that craft regulation.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 1 May 2026
Valentino Cash Amil, 30, was accused of purposefully using his 2024 Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan to strike Dannielle Spillman, 74, outside a gas station on April 13.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
When public outcry over the Wuhan lab and gain-of-function research increased, the indictment claims that Morens and co-conspirators purposefully moved government communications to private emails in order to hide them from the public.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Bain walked purposefully, never slowing, never stopping — not even to size himself up in his new Bucs hat in the mirror — before striding onstage for a hug with the commissioner.
—Zak Keefer, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Sometimes, creators will purposefully place a shocking item in the frame to stir up engagement.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
The simulated winds, which in a recent test purposefully fluctuated between 30 and 55 mph (50 to 90 kph), continually pushed the flames toward the home.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
But where many single-color canvases from the era were characterized by the smooth, even application of paint, Hayward purposefully left his materials chunky and thick.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposefully
Adverb
-
Even so, the target demographic remains intentionally domestic.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
-
As in the games, the violence is intentionally over-the-top and cartoony, never aiming to even remotely approach realistic.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Adverb
-
Our team plays the game pretty hard and always looks for extra bases.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
In an individual sport, removed from any team dynamic, the results board made the fairness debate hard to ignore.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Adverb
-
In keeping with the ultra-luxury playbook, the property is now being held off the market deliberately.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
5 May 2026
-
And in 2023, Wilson deliberately took a below-market extension to give the front office flexibility.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
5 May 2026
Adverb
-
By the end of the seventeenth century, sassafras had become one of the primary exports of the early English colony of Jamestown, and the aromatic bark was harvested intensively for shipment to European markets.—
Kari Traylor,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Apr. 2026
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Armed with subpoenas, the Secret Service and other agencies are intensively focusing on what might have caused the suspect to book a room at the Washington Hilton, less than two miles north of the White House, on the night of the annual dinner.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Sometimes acronyms are purposely devised to reinforce a message.—
Clarissa Brincat,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Are companies purposely purchasing broadcast time so that their commercials are repeated like that?—
Rich Heldenfels,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Then Faith Stafford, a senior deputy design director, worked diligently to re-create one design out of newspaper.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
-
Both appear to be working diligently within their own municipalities while reaching out to others in the county and state, all for the common good.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
2 May 2026
Adverb
-
As fires grew larger and burned more intensely, recreational losses sharpened.—
Kyle Manley,
The Conversation,
6 May 2026
-
Formed by a volcanic eruption 7,700 years ago, it's fed only by precipitation, resulting in its clear, intensely blue color.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
3 May 2026
Adverb
-
These qualities also tie her to Enyedi herself, who looks as intently and open-mindedly as Grete does.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
The deal was done, officials said, to solidify the corporate balance sheet, bolster standing with rating agencies and focus more intently Sempra’s utilities holdings — SDG&E, SoCalGas and Oncor.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purposefully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposefully. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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