purposeful

adjective

ˈpər-pəs-fəl How to pronounce purposeful (audio)
Definition of purposefulnext
1
as in resolute
fully committed to achieving a goal a soft-spoken but purposeful criminal investigator

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deliberate
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing there's a difference between a purposeful lie and an accidental untruth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 purposeful With purposeful application, this kitchen ingredient can become essential for supporting your tomatoes. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 29 July 2026 And Zelensky began the slow, purposeful task of reversing course, with a series of public meetings with top military commanders – a sounding board, and auditions for a post that Syrskyi had clearly already lost. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 22 July 2026 Silent and purposeful, the pelicans cut through a raucous chaos of gulls at the end of the wharf and glided on into the marsh. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 By thinking like an interior designer instead of a landscaper, Shavonda Gardner transformed an expansive backyard into a collection of purposeful outdoor rooms. — Stephen Orr, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposeful
  1. resolute
  2. deliberate
  3. intent
  4. conscious
  5. determined
  6. voluntary
  7. decisive
  8. intentional
Adjective
  • Still, co-founder and CEO Adam Taubenfligel remains resolute.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • That approach has totted up 38 unbeaten matches and created a resolute backline – another key trait of almost all World Cup winners – through pragmatism-by-possession.
    — Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of resolute
Adjective
  • Prosecutors may view a deliberate wipe at that point as an attempt to interfere with a search or seizure.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The studio’s journey from film production house to post-production powerhouse has been incremental but also deliberate.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of deliberate
Adjective
  • But this week became the biggest sign yet that these businesses are intent on increasing their investments into preeminent sporting organizations.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Maresca seems intent on letting his team’s football do the talking, but perhaps one day that will change.
    — Sam Lee, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of intent
Adjective
  • Sivan, meanwhile, makes the conscious decision to play a side character in his own song.
    — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Of course, as scholars like Winters wrote, this kind of oligarchy-hiding-in-plain-sight was part of the package of modern oligarchy—a kind of conscious cloaking that helped these figures rise in the first place, without any kind of public pushback.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of conscious
Adjective
  • At first determined to capture him, little by little Araí starts to understand, and eventually, to identify with the villain.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Abel opens the wallet Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO Greg Abel, who took over from Buffett at the start of the year, appears determined to put the record cash hoard amassed by Warren Buffett to work on buybacks and stock purchases.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of determined
Adjective
  • Mumps vaccination is voluntary and given with a separate standalone vaccine that parents pay for.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Savannah department said it was made aware of the misuse through Flock’s voluntary audit function.
    — Sarah Rankin, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of voluntary
Adjective
  • The 5th District saw more than double the amount of votes cast in its Congressional primary than in the 4th, and the gap in support between candidates was much more decisive.
    — Angela Eichhorst, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Stern’s decisive response to the Malice at the Palace – the suspensions of the players as well as the punishments meted out to the fans – sent a clear message that such behavior would not be tolerated.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of decisive
Adjective
  • Although umbrella insurance is far from perfect ― for instance, intentional acts are generally excluded ― umbrella insurance can provide much larger coverage amounts for things already covered by other policies with lower limits.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The experience has also turned the mother-daughter duo into advocates for mental health awareness and more intentional technology use.
    — Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of intentional

Browse Nearby Words

purposed
purposeful
purposefully
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Cite this Entry

“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposeful. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of purposeful for Spanish Speakers

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