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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of purposes
Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 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, 23 Mar. 2026
But screener links can get distributed and shared for reasons outside of these purposes.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 23 Mar. 2026
The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.
—Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 16 Mar. 2026
The document also included a tax reimbursement of $334 million that was calculated based on a March 11 close for the purposes of the filing.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
Specific areas the designer often focuses on for these purposes are creating easy access to bathrooms and wide passageways between rooms.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
Tips for Selecting Songs for Your School Commute Listening to music on your school commute can serve many purposes.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
The litigation is now complicating the rollout of a Bureau of Prisons policy revision, issued in February, that would end all complimentary in-prison access to hormonal drugs and cosmetic surgeries for gender-affirmation purposes.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 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, 23 Mar. 2026
But screener links can get distributed and shared for reasons outside of these purposes.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 23 Mar. 2026
The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.
—Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 16 Mar. 2026
The document also included a tax reimbursement of $334 million that was calculated based on a March 11 close for the purposes of the filing.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
Specific areas the designer often focuses on for these purposes are creating easy access to bathrooms and wide passageways between rooms.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
Tips for Selecting Songs for Your School Commute Listening to music on your school commute can serve many purposes.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposes
Noun
-
DeBrusk and Boeser each scored power-play goals, and the penalty kill weathered a 95 second five-on-three before conceding Granlund's goal late in a penalty to defenseman Elias Pettersson.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
And city residents question whether the strategy will produce lasting gains or primarily serve short-term political goals.—
Cleve R. Wootson Jr. The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These firms will play central roles in building and integrating the system’s various components.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Our relationships flex and shift and change, and roles that were once set in stone shift too.—
Sarah James,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center plans to incorporate bird-friendly glass, a move aimed at reducing deadly collisions with reflective surfaces.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Nugent plans to start by ramping up bread production before focusing on adding more sweet things like chocolate slabs, pastries and celebration cakes to the menu.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And Wright will need to explain how the administration’s latest emergency measure to keep oil flowing, a temporary sanctions waiver on Iran itself, won’t undermine US military objectives.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
No one wants the objectives to be entirely rolled back or for the state to step away from climate leadership.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Feel free to be direct when pitching in — people should appreciate offers to fetch supplies or spearhead specific tasks.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Your constructive 6th house hosts the conjunction of the dynamic Sun and elusive Neptune, lending you extra drive around daily tasks, co-workers, and personal care.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Apple intends to launch ads inside Maps as early as this summer, with the rollout spanning the iPhone, other devices and web platforms, the report added.—
Juby Babu,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Project Prometheus intends to build AI that simulates and understands the physical world.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Such exploitation becomes the starting point of movements whose aims and effects may ultimately be disastrous for America as a whole.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The Israeli military still needs weeks to complete its war aims, the two Israeli officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal military deliberations.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But Heidner also had problems understanding how state government functions.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Marble Canyon is also the closest base camp to Lees Ferry, the only practical launch point for multi-day Colorado River rafting trips, which means the property functions as both the beginning and, ideally, the very happy ending of something considerably larger.—
Kevin Sintumuang,
Outside,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purposes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposes. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
