as in deliberate
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing
facial tics and other unconscious movements that one would not normally call purposive actions
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Recent Examples of purposive
The character dimension of transcendence underpins purposive leadership by supplying the steady, renewable energy that allows leaders to act with intention rather than impulse.
—
Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Strengthening transcendence, with its associated behaviors of being purposive, inspired, optimistic, creative, and future-oriented, helps to broaden your perspective and see beyond the immediate challenges.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
For Defoe, meaning is purposive and theological, purposive because theological.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2022
Sporadic outbursts of feeling are converted into purposive and unremitting activity.
—Aldous Huxley, Harper's Magazine, 17 Aug. 2021
Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Strengthening transcendence, with its associated behaviors of being purposive, inspired, optimistic, creative, and future-oriented, helps to broaden your perspective and see beyond the immediate challenges.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
For Defoe, meaning is purposive and theological, purposive because theological.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2022
Sporadic outbursts of feeling are converted into purposive and unremitting activity.
—Aldous Huxley, Harper's Magazine, 17 Aug. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposive
Adjective
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Another telling detail was that the fungi in the surrounding dirt didn’t match the species that chose to bond with the moss, suggesting a deliberate relationship was present.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
21 June 2026
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On the film’s romantic dimension, the director was equally deliberate.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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The total number of children agreeing to voluntary departure has increased sevenfold, the Vera Institute of Justice found.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
20 June 2026
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In Europe, these voluntary reports focused on environmental and human rights issues.—
Jon McGowan,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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However, for the health-conscious, unsweetened ice tea is just as flavorful.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
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But since the 1990s, the Tartan Army has made a conscious effort to reshape its image.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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Crews told them the burn was intentional and that the parkway had been closed for the duration of the operation.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
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Racial socialization needs to be an intentional and deliberate process for white parents of Black and Black biracial children.—
Jennifer Rosen Heinz,
Parents,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
The plan to dismantle most of the Ocean Observatories Initiative, which had served less than half its intended lifespan, drew widespread criticism.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
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Just avoid overinvesting at the same time to allow your other assets to perform as intended.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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Some of Thomas’s critique appeared to be aimed at weak-willed conservatives, including his fellow-Justices, for being, as Thomas perceives it, too spineless to stand up for the ideals enshrined in the Declaration.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
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Meanwhile, gracious but iron-willed family matriarch Claudine works tirelessly behind the scenes to hush up family scandals.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purposive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposive. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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