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
We’ve been purposefully disaggregated into serviceable political economic units.
—
Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
Flowers that are known to attract bees and butterflies are purposefully planted in the garden to encourage pollination, which is essential for encouraging the production of flowers, fruit, and seeds across all plants.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2026
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 Apr. 2026
Out in the middle of current-day Edwards Air Force Base — one of the largest airfields in the world, at some 480 square miles — a small team began the X-plane program, a series of experimental aircraft designed to travel faster, higher and (purposefully) more awkwardly than ever before.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
The 1991 movie stars Nick Nolte as Sam Bowden, the one-time public defender who Cady haunts, blaming his long prison incarceration for rape on purposefully faulty defense tactics.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Many pointed out that the election date was chosen years ago, and that it was not chosen to purposefully conflict with the Passover holiday.
—Lauren Costantino
march 30, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Liz Truss, British prime minister for 49 days, is marching purposefully through the Gaylord Texan convention center’s corridors.
—Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2026
Look for ways to gamify tedious tasks or purposefully try to have a good attitude about upcoming chores.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
Flowers that are known to attract bees and butterflies are purposefully planted in the garden to encourage pollination, which is essential for encouraging the production of flowers, fruit, and seeds across all plants.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2026
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 Apr. 2026
Out in the middle of current-day Edwards Air Force Base — one of the largest airfields in the world, at some 480 square miles — a small team began the X-plane program, a series of experimental aircraft designed to travel faster, higher and (purposefully) more awkwardly than ever before.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
The 1991 movie stars Nick Nolte as Sam Bowden, the one-time public defender who Cady haunts, blaming his long prison incarceration for rape on purposefully faulty defense tactics.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Many pointed out that the election date was chosen years ago, and that it was not chosen to purposefully conflict with the Passover holiday.
—Lauren Costantino
march 30, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Liz Truss, British prime minister for 49 days, is marching purposefully through the Gaylord Texan convention center’s corridors.
—Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2026
Look for ways to gamify tedious tasks or purposefully try to have a good attitude about upcoming chores.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposefully
Adverb
-
More than just Southern fish While fish fries are often associated with the South, Robinson said the event is intentionally broader, rooted in the global Black experience.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Shortly after, Leatherman intentionally drove off the road, toward a Pennsylvania State trooper who was trying to put down a tire deflation device.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Third baseman Matt Chapman charged hard and fielded the ball, but the ball popped out of his glove on the exchange.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
No baseball community dies harder, without reward, than the Rockies faithful, spring after spring.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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And the key to wearing them well is by either leaning into those aesthetics or deliberately contrasting them with unexpected pieces.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
8 Apr. 2026
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Turnstile, meanwhile, have responded to a harrowing incident allegedly carried out last week by former guitarist Brady Ebert, who is accused of deliberately hitting Yates’ father with his car.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Perhaps 20 or more people work intensively with little direction.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
-
There are many good reasons to intensively treat high blood pressure, but the benefits accumulate over many years.—
Mara Gordon,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
What’s being left out purposely, deceptively, by the major media about these important facts to create a context for this Russian invasion of Ukraine.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Upon cracking, the perlite beads purposely shattered, releasing nutrients and spores into the fissure.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Officers worked diligently and patiently to free Miracle from the drainage pipe, the agency said.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Security footage and tracks from the attack showed that Honey had diligently warded off a bear while on patrol.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
31 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
His talent fuses perfectly with an intensely competitive nature.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Schmidt, who was research director of the Southwest Biological Institute, sorted stings into four tiers of pain, from the mildly annoying to the intensely painful.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
8 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Precede the yelp with a cluck, and listen intently for half a minute or so.—
Charles Elliott,
Outdoor Life,
2 Apr. 2026
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Words of Affirmation For kids who listen intently and speak sweetly, your loving words matter most.—
Gail Cornwall,
Parents,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purposefully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposefully. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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