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

Relevance

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 Was that purposeful on your part, to try to show the other side? — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 At Brightview Mount Laurel, residents living with dementia grow herbs that are later used in the kitchen, turning sustainability into something tactile, purposeful, and deeply human. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026 That anyone can find something purposeful that matters to them. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026 This distinction between passive consumption and purposeful use is increasingly shaping school policy. — Janice Mak, The Conversation, 30 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
  • Should Alvarez remain resolute about Barca, Arsenal must determine whether to persist with their current attacking group or pivot to alternative targets.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Still, co-founder and CEO Adam Taubenfligel remains resolute.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of resolute
Adjective
  • What The Band Has Done Well The pacing was patient, and that patience appears deliberate.
    — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The encounter affirmed that things were falling into place, Lee said, adding that moments like that must be accompanied by deliberate and strategic work.
    — April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of deliberate
Adjective
  • His appointment is seen as a sign that the leadership is intent on preventing any new unrest as discontent over the economy spreads.
    — Lee Keath, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • During this time Turner became intent on pursuing an acting career and began frequently auditioning.
    — L. Sue Baugh, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of intent
Adjective
  • The usual crowd here, though, is the design-conscious traveler, along with couples looking for more character than the usual glass-tower Tokyo hotel.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
  • As surgeons worked behind her ear, Peasley listened to the music and remained conscious throughout the procedure.
    — Marlee Ginter, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of conscious
Adjective
  • With his newfound resolve/death wish, Jacob is determined to keep his sister’s and nephew’s killers on that bridge until backup arrives.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The National Hurricane Center has a set number of lists, which include one pre-determined name for every letter of the alphabet, that are used on a rotational basis, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
    — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of determined
Adjective
  • Sullivan agreed to include instructions on voluntary manslaughter but not the Bowden charge.
    — Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Water cuts split states Under the new rules, four states – Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming – are allowed to implement voluntary water reductions instead of mandatory cuts.
    — James Powel, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of voluntary
Adjective
  • Alphabet’s stock is down more than 15% from its May peak, wiping out roughly $700 billion in value, as concerns rise over its mounting AI bills and failure to produce a decisive technological breakthrough.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • There were shorter absences for core, ankle and adductor issues over the year, but a hamstring problem, which wiped out December and January, was the decisive blow.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of decisive
Adjective
  • On TikTok, little treat culture has become shorthand for turning tiny everyday purchases into something that feels earned and intentional.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Colored Light Bulbs and Lava Lamps Colored bulbs and lava lamps may conjure images of ’90s bedrooms, but nostalgic lighting is returning in a more intentional way.
    — Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of intentional

Browse Nearby Words

purposed
purposeful
purposefully
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposeful. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All