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
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 15 June 2026
While municipalities may authorize certain vehicle assignments or equipment for operational purposes, local policies do not supersede state law.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 15 June 2026
Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful and civilian purposes.
—Kiara Moore, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 2026
Instead, the audit found, the state was remitting fee revenue to the general fund and using more than half the money for purposes unrelated to the board.
—Phoebe Quinton, AJC.com, 15 June 2026
The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 15 June 2026
Iranian officials have long publicly maintained that the country's nuclear program operates only for civilian purposes, although Western officials have said their uranium enrichment has gone beyond what would be needed for civilian use.
—Justin Fishel, ABC News, 15 June 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, 8 June 2026
This one serves two essential purposes.
—Julie Lin, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 June 2026
Noun
The Supreme Court decided in 2014 that inherited IRAs do not qualify as retirement funds for purposes of federal bankruptcy protection, as beneficiaries cannot make new contributions and are often required to take distributions from the account.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 15 June 2026
While municipalities may authorize certain vehicle assignments or equipment for operational purposes, local policies do not supersede state law.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 15 June 2026
Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful and civilian purposes.
—Kiara Moore, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 2026
Instead, the audit found, the state was remitting fee revenue to the general fund and using more than half the money for purposes unrelated to the board.
—Phoebe Quinton, AJC.com, 15 June 2026
The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 15 June 2026
Iranian officials have long publicly maintained that the country's nuclear program operates only for civilian purposes, although Western officials have said their uranium enrichment has gone beyond what would be needed for civilian use.
—Justin Fishel, ABC News, 15 June 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, 8 June 2026
This one serves two essential purposes.
—Julie Lin, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposes
Noun
-
One hundred and twenty-six supporters lost their lives after police fired tear gas into the terraces following two late goals from Hearts of Oak in a game against Asante Kotoko.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Messi’s two goals came 20 years after his first World Cup goal in his debut on June 16, 2006, at age 18.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Previous roles include those of adjunct curator of Latin American art at Tate, London (2012–15) and curator of Singapore’s LARA collection (2012–20).—
News Desk,
Artforum,
17 June 2026
-
The stereotypes of casting Latinos as criminals on screen persisted, with one in four immigrant characters cast in roles involving drug dealing, smuggling, and human trafficking.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Kemp said the union was told that the carriage owner has suspended the driver indefinitely and plans to retire the horse involved in the accident.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
Opening dates for the new locations are still to be announced, but a representative for the brand told PEOPLE over email that the nine locations are included in 21 stores across 13 states that the chain plans to open over the next six months.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
In a statement, the State Department said that the deal reflects Senegal's own strategic objectives.—
Jonathan Lambert,
NPR,
13 June 2026
-
For these participants, competition with the humanoid robot created a fun challenge, clear objectives, and a rewarding sense of mastery that enhanced the overall gaming experience.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
One of the board's first tasks will be reviewing and finalizing the Colfax Community Vision & Action Plan.—
Michael Abeyta,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
-
If tasks pile up, batch similar actions and protect your calendar edges, since boundaries keep interruptions from scattering your concentration.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The family of former 49ers defensive lineman Aldon Smith intends to have his brain studied by CTE experts, according to family statement released Tuesday.—
Michael Nowels,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
-
In March, a lawyer for Partey said the player intends to plead not guilty to two new charges of rape after a woman alleged Partey twice raped her on the same day in December 2020.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Only within the logic of an authoritarian or deeply reactionary culture can justice and beauty become controversial aims.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
-
These aims put it on a similar trajectory to old rival Tesla, with both companies eyeing humanoid robots as a new frontier, even if the technology is still in its early stages.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Plus, most tests sequence which bacteria are present but skip the chemical activity that explains how your gut actually functions, and a stool sample mainly reflects the colon rather than the small intestine where a lot happens.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
-
Sakura Market is owned by Osaka Marketplace and functions as a small-format version of the larger store.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purposes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposes. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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