purposeful

adjective

pur·​pose·​ful ˈpər-pəs-fəl How to pronounce purposeful (audio)
1
: having a purpose: such as
a
: meaningful
purposeful activities
b
: intentional
purposeful ambiguity
2
: full of determination
was soft-spoken but purposeful
purposefully adverb
purposefulness noun

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
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.
This year can be different; this year can be the year of true transformation, a purposeful way to the new you. Tinna Jackson, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 In contrast, this Nosferatu begins and ends with Ellen onscreen making decisions — impulsive and shortsighted, purposeful and wistful — about her own life. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2025 Turning the lights off could rattle TikTok’s loyal fanbase, perhaps with the purposeful aim of gaining Trump’s attention. David Goldman, CNN, 15 Jan. 2025 Yahoo Sports first pointed out the Vikings’ purposeful use of tempo against the Packers. Ted Nguyen, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for purposeful 

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of purposeful was in 1853

Dictionary Entries Near purposeful

Cite this Entry

“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purposeful. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on purposeful

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!