purposeful
adjective
pur·pose·ful
ˈpər-pəs-fəl 
1
: having a purpose: such as
a
: meaningful
purposeful activities
b
: intentional
purposeful ambiguity
2
: full of determination
was soft-spoken but purposeful
purposefulness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of purposeful in a Sentence
a soft-spoken but purposeful criminal investigator
there's a difference between a purposeful lie and an accidental untruth
Recent Examples on the Web
Accessibility and Sustainability The almost century-old Peninsula brand is dedicated to longevity and continuing to build upon a timeless, purposeful brand.
—
Stacey Wreathall, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
So any moment like that — that asks the question or poses a new theory or shows you someone in a new light — is very purposeful.
—Megan Vick, Variety, 1 Apr. 2024
Their strategic investment in technology was purposeful, avoiding the pitfalls of excessive acquisition and maintenance costs.
—Francisco Ramirez, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Perfect lighting and an eclectic mix of collected items and handmade art pieces fit together in a way that seems purposeful but not forced.
—Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 28 Mar. 2024
The recent changes are much more than aesthetic, some are more purposeful like having men and women’s locker rooms on the same floor with the same amenities.
—Journal Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2024
And while half of the founders of C2’s 45 portfolio companies are either women or people of color, that level of diversity was never a purposeful intent.
—John Kell, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024
Lyn Slater will be the first to tell you her life has been a series of happy accidents and purposeful metamorphoses.
—Alix Strauss, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024
Gen-Zers want meaningful and purposeful conversations with their managers about balancing work responsibilities with their mental health.
—Tess Brigham, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Stacey Wreathall, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
So any moment like that — that asks the question or poses a new theory or shows you someone in a new light — is very purposeful.
—Megan Vick, Variety, 1 Apr. 2024
Their strategic investment in technology was purposeful, avoiding the pitfalls of excessive acquisition and maintenance costs.
—Francisco Ramirez, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Perfect lighting and an eclectic mix of collected items and handmade art pieces fit together in a way that seems purposeful but not forced.
—Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 28 Mar. 2024
The recent changes are much more than aesthetic, some are more purposeful like having men and women’s locker rooms on the same floor with the same amenities.
—Journal Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2024
And while half of the founders of C2’s 45 portfolio companies are either women or people of color, that level of diversity was never a purposeful intent.
—John Kell, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024
Lyn Slater will be the first to tell you her life has been a series of happy accidents and purposeful metamorphoses.
—Alix Strauss, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024
Gen-Zers want meaningful and purposeful conversations with their managers about balancing work responsibilities with their mental health.
—Tess Brigham, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'purposeful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Articles Related to purposeful
Dictionary Entries Near purposeful
Cite this Entry
“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purposeful. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on purposeful
Nglish: Translation of purposeful for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of purposeful for Arabic Speakers
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