1
as in resolute
fully committed to achieving a goal
a soft-spoken but purposeful criminal investigator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deliberate
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing
there's a difference between a purposeful lie and an accidental untruth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in decisiveness
firm or unwavering adherence to one's purpose
approached the challenge with grim purposefulness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of purposeful
Chay Lapin, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
These purposeful interventions reinforce the building’s deeper purpose.
—New Atlas, 16 May 2025
This is purposeful filmmaking, firm in its convictions.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 15 May 2025
Our approach is inspired by the steady, purposeful growth of iconic brands like Apple — where every launch builds on the last and deepens the connection with the customer.
—Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Adjective
In addition, some DSTs investments can be 100% debt-free as a purposeful factor of the investment strategy.
—Chay Lapin, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
These purposeful interventions reinforce the building’s deeper purpose.
—New Atlas, 16 May 2025
This is purposeful filmmaking, firm in its convictions.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 15 May 2025
Our approach is inspired by the steady, purposeful growth of iconic brands like Apple — where every launch builds on the last and deepens the connection with the customer.
—Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposeful
Adjective
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The closest thing that comes to mind is probably Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life, although this is Malick by way of Jane Campion and Michael Haneke, shifting between fleeting coming-of-age moments and scenes of resolute darkness and human cruelty.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2025
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It was never sold in the U.S. thanks to the unwavering objections of a resolute reviewer at the FDA named Frances Oldham Kelsey.—
David Armstrong,
CNN Money,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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Cannes got its own cliff-hanger ending on Saturday, the final day of the 78th film festival, when a power outage, apparently caused by deliberate sabotage, shut down the power grid serving the city and much of the surrounding region.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2025
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Even by the standards of France’s famously deliberate legal system, the case took years to reach trial.—
John Leicester,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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If the players were intent on sticking to their set routines, chairman Steve Parish was the opposite.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
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The La Jolla Shores Permit Review Committee returned to meeting online this week, and though its first meeting back on Zoom since the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t go as smoothly as hoped, the board is intent on sticking to the virtual format.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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Most others are exploring their options on incentives and examining if this is the right path to take. Future of Work – new patterns, new challenges, new opportunities In some policy areas, like International Tax Reform, change has been driven by conscious political decisions.—
Amanda Tickel,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
-
The company, led by Carlos Núñez and Gabriela Sandoval, is known for championing socially conscious cinema and has a strong record of international co-productions.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
16 May 2025
Noun
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife did not indicate in its news release what may have caused the animal’s death but said a final determination will be made after a necropsy.—
Max Levy,
Denver Post,
16 May 2025
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This goal for his country against Spain, for example, again highlights his determination to get on the ball, his passing and his willingness to drive forward.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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As the clinic races to rebuild, Abdallah is determined to continue providing care.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
20 May 2025
-
If the man is determined to have committed a crime, the library said, the police may make the information public.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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First, the team worked with cat owners to obtain voluntary samples.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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Court and prison records show Yarbrough was convicted for voluntary manslaughter for shooting dead Thomas Karins on Dec. 31, 1981, in Gary.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
Noun
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The three ultra moderates also voiced alarm at their colleagues’ decision to scale back the mayor’s plan for increasing hiring at the fire department.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
-
That was guiding a lot of our decision making — how to land the plane in terms of the emotional realities that were going on in the film.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposeful. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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