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
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, 4 June 2026
Louis, who attends one of Lestat’s concerts in the earlier episodes, but purposefully does not react to it.
—Alex Zalben, IndieWire, 3 June 2026
Stagg’s wife The play doesn’t include scenes with Stagg’s wife, Elizabeth, but Haig purposefully bookends the film with the couple together.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
But purposefully or not, CBS News’ changes in broadcast and political ideology have both cost them their remaining audience and alienated some remaining staff.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 28 May 2026
What the evidence suggests is that investing purposefully in school leadership—from preparation through the full arc of a principal's career—is one of the highest-leverage investments a district or state can make.
—Linda Darling-Hammond, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Arsenal purposefully recruited a group born within a few years of each other, who could mature together.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 May 2026
Designer pieces are styled purposefully to look undone or not fully completed.
—Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
There is an official timekeeper who purposefully faces away from the drum to avoid any perception of bias.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 11 May 2026
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 June 2026
Louis, who attends one of Lestat’s concerts in the earlier episodes, but purposefully does not react to it.
—Alex Zalben, IndieWire, 3 June 2026
Stagg’s wife The play doesn’t include scenes with Stagg’s wife, Elizabeth, but Haig purposefully bookends the film with the couple together.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
But purposefully or not, CBS News’ changes in broadcast and political ideology have both cost them their remaining audience and alienated some remaining staff.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 28 May 2026
What the evidence suggests is that investing purposefully in school leadership—from preparation through the full arc of a principal's career—is one of the highest-leverage investments a district or state can make.
—Linda Darling-Hammond, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Arsenal purposefully recruited a group born within a few years of each other, who could mature together.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 May 2026
Designer pieces are styled purposefully to look undone or not fully completed.
—Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
There is an official timekeeper who purposefully faces away from the drum to avoid any perception of bias.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 11 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposefully
Adverb
-
Flores seeks evidence to further his claim that the league and several teams intentionally discriminated against him, and the coach has insisted his legal team gain access to personal devices of league and team employees for discovery purposes.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
4 June 2026
-
The nervous system is the foundation that every other aspect of training is built on, and when athletes learn to train it intentionally, the results show up across sleep, readiness, and resilience.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Adverb
-
Fernando has no such accidents despite hitting the ball hard.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
-
The couple hard-launched their relationship in 2019 with their first red carpet appearance at the LACMA Art + Film Gala in LA.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
Adverb
-
More screen time is given over to her burgeoning friendship with firebrand suffragette Mary, played by singer Lily Allen in a deliberately anachronistic performance — her forthright speech and manner beamed in directly from the 21st century.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
3 June 2026
-
The school has opted to proceed deliberately with the search and consider other candidates, while not ruling out Yormark by any means.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
3 June 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
-
To be clear, there is no evidence White is trying to purposely undermine Caitlin Clark.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
-
The former Super Bowl-winning coach is one of the most respected men in the NASCAR garage, and few would purposely criticize him.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
24 May 2026
Adverb
-
Instead, it will be shaped by intelligent systems that help physicians make better decisions, collaborate more effectively, and where the entire patient journey is diligently managed.—
Dr. Jonathan Reichental,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
But Thornton has been working diligently to get an increased role within the defense.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
27 May 2026
Adverb
-
But whoever does sign on will be intensely scrutinized while the Nielsen numbers are closely watched.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
However, researchers are increasingly exploring whether chronic stress, poor sleep, social isolation, and other lifestyle factors influence how intensely symptoms are experienced.—
Meggen Harris,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Adverb
-
On it, the two trade not just verses but a series of escalating, truly incendiary guitar solos, Springsteen watching Morello intently and nodding encouragement and approval, before Morello handing the reins back to Springsteen.—
Caryn Rose,
Variety,
28 May 2026
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Through it all, most Cabinet members listened intently with little emotion, except Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick — already known for conspicuously laughing loudest at such meetings — who nodded frequently and enthusiastically along this time.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purposefully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposefully. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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