1
as in goals
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish
the purpose of the research is to discover how the virus is transmitted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in roles
the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists
still trying to discover her purpose in life
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in plans
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
I've been purposing to fix that thing for some time now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of purposes
Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
For salary cap accounting purposes, this lump sum can be prorated (divided evenly) over the length of the contract to spread out the amount that counts against the cap.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
This material is for illustration and discussion purposes and not intended to be, nor construed as, financial, legal, tax or investment advice.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
The information provided is for educational purposes and should not be construed as financial, investment or trading advice.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2026
Such systems are usually discussed as future sources of clean energy, but researchers say the same technology could enable other strategic capabilities if adapted for defense purposes.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
At least five of the schools — Becker, Dawson, Ridgetop, Sunset Valley and Widén — are expected to be used for non-academic purposes.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 6 Apr. 2026
Just months earlier, in a September 2024 audit report, the Justice Department’s inspector general found that the service had deputized people who were ineligible and had deputized others for questionable purposes.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
This is plain weaponization of the FBI for partisan political purposes.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
What's new is using criminal prosecutors for partisan purposes -- and there's no quotes about that in the case.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
For salary cap accounting purposes, this lump sum can be prorated (divided evenly) over the length of the contract to spread out the amount that counts against the cap.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
This material is for illustration and discussion purposes and not intended to be, nor construed as, financial, legal, tax or investment advice.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
The information provided is for educational purposes and should not be construed as financial, investment or trading advice.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2026
Such systems are usually discussed as future sources of clean energy, but researchers say the same technology could enable other strategic capabilities if adapted for defense purposes.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
At least five of the schools — Becker, Dawson, Ridgetop, Sunset Valley and Widén — are expected to be used for non-academic purposes.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 6 Apr. 2026
Just months earlier, in a September 2024 audit report, the Justice Department’s inspector general found that the service had deputized people who were ineligible and had deputized others for questionable purposes.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
This is plain weaponization of the FBI for partisan political purposes.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposes
Noun
-
Epstein also claimed that the prince had asked that he be allowed to see details of legal structures, organization charts, goals and initiatives of the Saudi central bank, the royal purse and the country’s sovereign wealth fund, his emails to Al-Sabbagh’s aide show.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Jack Eichel has 25 goals and 57 assists for the Golden Knights.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Kendall, as usual, played multiple roles.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler and Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez were each given seven-game suspensions for their roles in the benches-clearing affair.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Now back in Kansas City, Strahm plans to settle back into his Midwest lifestyle.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Fuller defeated Shawn Harris, who plans to challenge him again in November.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
With strategic objectives so different, and with two different wars being fought simultaneously, a win-win outcome is not in the cards.—
Daniel Kurtzer,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
But this- the idea that the administration and our armed forces are not meeting their objectives, or that there wasn’t a plan, is absurd.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Lower barriers to entry, more conversations about burnout and work-life balance, and the growing use of artificial intelligence to handle repetitive tasks are helping reshape the profession’s image.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Investors have seen the stock as a potential victim of artificial intelligence as more service industry tasks are automated.—
Itzel Franco,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The issue has grown pressing enough that NBA commissioner Adam Silver has said the league intends to curb some of the tanking by changing the lottery process.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The developer intends to complete the last of the townhomes in a first phase of the community by 2030, according to Planning Board documents.—
Joe Marusak
April 7,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
If the Supreme Court does vote to maintain the 14th Amendment as is, expect Republicans to come up with legislation to enact their racist aims.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Later in 2021, official aims of meeting the ambitious 2024 date quickly faded as space policy experts reflected on the beginning of the Biden administration.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That adds up to approximately $374 million each year that helps cover various city services and functions like street repair, snow removal, weekly trash collection, codes inspection and historic preservation alongside police, fire, emergency and ambulance services.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Instead, his curiosity functions as a proper cushion for all.—
DeAsia Paige,
AJC.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purposes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposes. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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