as in decisiveness
firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose
approached the challenge with grim purposefulness
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Recent Examples of purposefulness
Yet his playing had an otherworldly serenity that contrasted with Williams’s gentle purposefulness.
—
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
This month also reconnects you with a sense of purposefulness.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
This month also reconnects you with a sense of purposefulness.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposefulness
Noun
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Adam Wharton, 22, is liked by people at United for his progressive passing and decisiveness on the ball.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Apple gets a new CEO who is expected to bring back Jobs-era decisiveness.—
Menaka Doshi,
Bloomberg,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Malek’s brave and wonderfully lived-in performance is one that will be long remembered, a career high for this Oscar-winning actor who simply inhabits this man with dignity and determination, his days limited but his spirit untouched.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
20 May 2026
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But Tusk said Europeans should be under no illusion about Washington’s determination to reduce its military presence on the continent and the need for Europeans to fill the gap.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
Noun
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The doctor–patient relationship is also frequently beset by dilemmas and decisions beyond the pathology at hand.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
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The decision will allow physicians to administer puberty blockers and hormone therapy for teenagers experiencing gender dysphoria with the permission of their parents.—
Matthew Kelly
May 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
Noun
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This year’s results—which show most respondents prioritizing gradual growth, continuous learning and well-being over fast career progression—once again point to the resolve and adaptability of these generations.—
Emma Codd,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
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And the story itself also neatly resolves, with the forces of good triumphing over the forces of evil.—
Emily Feng,
NPR,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purposefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposefulness. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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