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Synonyms
Examples of purposely in a Sentence
the real estate agent purposely withheld information that would have discouraged us from buying the property
Recent Examples on the Web
While there may be a role for insurance, the sheer number of insurance products available today often creates more confusion than clarity for Americans, forcing them to wade through the morass of fine print that can be purposely misleading and sometimes fraudulent.
—Renee Hsia, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
In the winter, water levels are kept purposely lower because of a seasonal decline in water use by residents.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
At least 15 people were killed, and more than 30 others were injured in New Orleans after the vehicle was purposely driven into a crowd during New Year’s celebrations.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 2 Jan. 2025
By introducing new words (whether faked or purposely devised), and popularizing underused words, generative AI could indirectly shape human language.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of purposely was
in the 15th century
Articles Related to purposely
Dictionary Entries Near purposely
Cite this Entry
“Purposely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purposely. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
purposely
adverb
pur·pose·ly
ˈpər-pəs-lē
: with a clear or known purpose
Legal Definition
purposely
adverb
pur·pose·ly
: with a deliberate, conscious, or express purpose : intentionally
More from Merriam-Webster on purposely
Nglish: Translation of purposely for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of purposely for Arabic Speakers
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