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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Even so, the case is moving at a slow, deliberate pace that could stretch for months.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
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But that’s clearly a deliberate choice, perhaps on the reasonable ground that there has been more than enough tabloidification of these two without a new opera adding grist.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Florida remains committed to longstanding constitutional protections for voluntary prayer and religious expression in our public schools.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
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While starter home districts would circumvent communities’ larger lot restrictions, that very fact would seem to generally restrict their voluntary adoption in those circumstances.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Australia has traditionally handled asylum negotiations behind closed doors, conscious that the public spotlight can ramp up pressure and bring dangers to potential refugees and their families.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
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One victim was found semi-conscious near the area of the explosion, Robinson said.—
Andrew Adeolu,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Ultimately, Turner says, young people are resilient — their brains are still growing — and intentional parenting goes a long way toward offsetting the effects of digital devices and social media.—
Deborah Vankin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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That framing, whether intentional or not, is disrespectful, dismissive and demeaning.—
Terri Freeman,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Just keep it a critical but limited portion (often capped at 10%) to allow your other, income-producing assets to still perform as intended.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
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Thomas Susman, who helped craft the 1974 FOIA amendments and currently assists the American Bar Association, wrote in 2005 that increasing delays and backlogs threatened FOIA’s intended purpose.—
David Cuillier,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Power scored an Ivy League tournament-record 44 points and hit a clutch, season-saving three-pointer with 2 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, and willed Pennsylvania to an 88-84 win in the conference title game on Sunday.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
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In addition to Marmee, there’s Aunt March who serves as an even stronger willed maternal figure for the March sisters.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purposive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposive. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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