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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In those seconds, training and decisiveness matter most.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Aug. 2025
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Cole Palmer is their star but new recruits Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens will give them an extra cutting edge and decisiveness in the final third.—
Joe Prince-Wright,
NBC news,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Police will forward findings to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office for review and determination of charges.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
11 June 2026
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This World Cup, like Yamal’s sentiments, reflects FIFA’s determination to chart a new course and, as its critics charge, a disregard for the sport’s past and its millions of fans.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Noun
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For Antwan McKoy, the decision was always going to be one of those two schools.—
Jeff Sentell,
AJC.com,
17 June 2026
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The National Science Foundation had directed the removal of most of the system’s instruments from waters off Oregon, Washington, Alaska, North Carolina and Greenland by 2027 — a decision scientists said came with no warning and no scientific review.—
Annika Hammerschlag,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Noun
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Whether his name is cleared, Jud resolves, is immaterial.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
11 Dec. 2025
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Wars, no matter how horrible, are occasions to reaffirm national identity, a chance to prove heroism and moral resolve.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purposefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposefulness. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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