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
  • Sandro Tonali and Adam Wharton were considered as options alongside Anderson and Bouaddi, but Fernandez was the player City were most determined to sign.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The kitchen is located in the new addition of the house, and Keys was determined to inject it with charm.
    — Rachel Wallace, Architectural Digest, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of determined
Adjective
  • The center had been a free, voluntary resource for state, local, tribal and territorial election office employees to receive the latest intelligence how bad actors are targeting election infrastructure.
    — Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Yolanda Marodi previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of an estranged partner in 2003 and served roughly a decade in prison.
    — Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of voluntary
Adjective
  • Carney was also buoyed by Monday’s Liberal sweep of three special elections, including a decisive win in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord in Quebec, where the Conservatives fell to third place.
    — Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Carney was also buoyed by Monday's Liberal sweep of three special elections, including a decisive win in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, Quebec, where the Conservatives fell to third place.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of decisive
Adjective
  • Authorities do not believe the incident was intentional, according to the release.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Success is the compound effect of intentional actions repeated over time.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 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 4 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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

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

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
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
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All