purposefully

adverb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of purposefully Second, Gerwig's preferred version of the story seems to purposefully remove the underlying meaning of it, of Lewis' work and the religious influence behind it. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Leatherman Next, Leatherman installs a sheepsfoot blade purposefully shaped for working like a small kitchen utility knife. — New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026 This individual asset is often referred to as zest, and it can be purposefully developed to assist us in managing daily stressors as well as creating meaningful lives. — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026 This fall the classic lady jacket is getting a modern makeover, with purposefully shrunken silhouettes emerging as one of the season’s biggest outerwear trends. — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2026 However, Rob Shuter is reporting that Meghan believes Kate purposefully humiliated her by recently taking Princess Charlotte on the London Underground. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2026 Just as infinite intelligence guides migrating birds, divine Mind purposefully guides us, too. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2026 Rather than slicking the head in hair gel, Magallones purposefully keeps the product use to a minimum, allowing for natural curls to come through on top of the head. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 His loneliness is somewhat mitigated by the other sentient AIs he’s uploaded to his mindspace, envisioned by creator Terry Matalas (Syfy’s 12 Monkeys) as a big white house on a purposefully digital green lawn. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposefully
  1. intentionally
  2. hard
  3. deliberately
  4. intensively
  5. purposely
  6. diligently
  7. intensely
  8. intently
Adverb
  • Seventy-one percent of Americans said states should not be allowed to draw congressional districts that intentionally favor one party, according to a recent YouGov poll.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • As part of the scheme, prosecutors allege, Heflin conspired with other companies and individuals to predetermine who would win certain business, at times submitting intentionally inflated bids to schools.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of intentionally
Adverb
  • With nearly 60 murders per day, South Africa has one of the world's highest crime rates, and several of Cape Town's townships are among the areas hardest hit by violent crime.
    — Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Eisenkot believes Netanyahu has purposefully made that process harder.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of hard
Adverb
  • The New York Times published a report earlier Wednesday saying the Peltola campaign coordinated with Democratic operatives to recruit a second Dan Sullivan to be on the Senate ballot to deliberately confuse voters.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The experts concluded that wounds suggested many victims had been deliberately targeted and killed.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of deliberately
Adverb
  • They are packaged attractively, marketed intensively and intended to displace other food groups.
    — Garrett M. Broad, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Newsom, by contrast, may need to begin campaigning intensively after leaving office rather than wait for Harris’s decision.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of intensively
Adverb
  • While the citations described dangerous driving, the murder charges will require the prosecution to prove that Battiloro purposely caused the deaths, Bramnick said.
    — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Ryu knows the real truth about Ken but keeps it to himself and has become a loner, a man purposely hiding from his past cooking up a new identity in the food world.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of purposely
Adverb
  • In an update, King said that his investigators were working diligently to learn what led to the death of 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem onboard the ride, and will continue to review the evidence, equipment, and relevant documentation.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Since the dawn of time, the experts tell us, those who got ahead financially lived within their means, saved diligently and spent and invested carefully.
    — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of diligently
Adverb
  • Three years after the massacre, those divisions have only deepened, transforming Tuesday's vote into something intensely personal.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • And sea surface temperatures are intensely hotter than normal.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of intensely
Adverb
  • On Thursday, Owens’ fellow inductees and emcee Fran Fraschilla listened intently as Owens, still sharp and quick with a line, mixed gratitude with humor during his remarks.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
  • As Jose spoke, Courtney sat next to her mother, listening intently as tears slowly rolled down her face.
    — Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of intently

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purposeful
purposefully
purposefulness
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Cite this Entry

“Purposefully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposefully. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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