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
Every note carries emotional weight, every pause is purposeful.
—
Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2025
The pace is purposeful, and not just because of its long time-to-kill.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
What actually works is a purposeful and proactive integration of your personal and professional worlds.
—Chad Willardson, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
This approach drives purposeful and strategic progress.
—Alejandro Martinez, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2025
The pace is purposeful, and not just because of its long time-to-kill.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
What actually works is a purposeful and proactive integration of your personal and professional worlds.
—Chad Willardson, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
This approach drives purposeful and strategic progress.
—Alejandro Martinez, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposeful
Adjective
-
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side In the big-screen adaptation of this true story, Sandra Bullock played Leigh Anne Tuohy, the resolute Southern mother who adopts teen Michael Oher.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
2 Mar. 2025
-
Conscientiously addressing a national crisis of domestic abuse while also lunging for the heartstrings, the film is an uneven balance of grainy social realism and crowd-pleasing uplift, but Cruz’s resolute performance just about holds it together.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The deliberate elimination of gender-affirming care in many states is a serious human rights violation.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
-
As the recovery needle for Chinook moves in the wrong direction, Katz said deliberate action is urgent.—
Alastair Bland | CalMatters,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Evolving Search Referring to Google user intent programming, Srinivas talked about how search is a fundamental service, and what that has meant for the industry.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
-
The Metropolitan Police of Cartagena said the 40-year-old man had a flight to Amsterdam and was intent on taking more than 220 grams of cocaine to the European country.—
Krystal Nurse,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
First responders arrived at the scene around 10:03 a.m. to find Joseph conscious and alert, the sheriff's office said.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Diplomatic and socially conscious, Mitchell chooses to keep the peace in his relationships, especially seeing both sides of an argument, just like Libra.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Nick, now focused on his role as the heir to his grandfather’s empire, and Noah, just beginning to build her own career, are determined to keep their distance, despite their undeniable attraction and the past that connects them.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
-
Is this morally corrupt crowd determined to ignore constitutional obligations rather than ever admit a mistake?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
What's Being Recalled And Why The voluntary recall was initiated by Cabot’s parent company, Agri-Mark, Inc., on March 26, 2025, after internal testing detected elevated levels of coliform bacteria.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
After an open letter announced the move on March 25, the card count occurred on Wednesday, followed by voluntary recognition from management the same day.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And, in fact, Democrats are winning special elections month after month after month, including most recently a decisive one in Wisconsin earlier this month for the state Supreme Court.—
Isabel Danzis,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2025
-
That’s exactly what WWE fans got inside Allegiant Stadium, with a short but sweet bout that ended in decisive fashion when Cargill demolished Naomi with a massive Jaded finisher.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
These new regulations are meant to reduce the chances of intentional or unintentional targeting of white sharks, which not only harms the animals but also increases public safety risks.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
This is often not intentional fraud but is due to the handler not understanding the difference between an ESA and a service dog.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposeful. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share