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
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Recent Examples of purposeful
The outline provides guardrails, keeping the narrative focused and purposeful.
—
Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2025
In many ways, this is the most present of all the hats because of how much purposeful attention is drawn to it.
—Kinsey Jasnoch, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
Whatever the feedback is, act on it with a purposeful plan.
—Stacey Hanke, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
According to Highland Park staff, that’s been a purposeful attempt to try and be sensitive to a traumatized community.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2025
In many ways, this is the most present of all the hats because of how much purposeful attention is drawn to it.
—Kinsey Jasnoch, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
Whatever the feedback is, act on it with a purposeful plan.
—Stacey Hanke, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
According to Highland Park staff, that’s been a purposeful attempt to try and be sensitive to a traumatized community.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposeful
Adjective
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The letter offers a resolute response to Ballal’s treatment unlike the one signed by Yang and Kramer.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
28 Mar. 2025
-
There is plenty of good sense in the EU taking a resolute stand.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This deliberate approach matters because many organizations struggle with performative values.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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There are also deliberate cuts that have been vowed at Columbia and UPenn, two universities that get federal funding and do health research.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Not because technology may disrupt it, but because my own government seems intent on destroying it.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
30 Mar. 2025
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However, Trump also seemed to remain intent to place tariffs on pharmaceuticals and lumber.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But the players around him will need to be conscious defensively to get the most out of him.—
Sam Vecenie,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Most of them went by quickly enough to evade conscious perception, but the overall effect was unsettling.—
Rob Salkowitz,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Despite Donald Trump‘s growing chokehold on the Kennedy Center, Conan O’Brien was determined to fill the venue with laughs.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
3 Apr. 2025
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Whereas Selena exudes ambition, Pete is inexplicably determined not to advance in his job — which is tricky, since Willie keeps killing his superiors, which means Pete’s bound to become captain eventually, if only by process of elimination.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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While there has even been some talk of a military invasion, there are other ways America could gain control of the Arctic territory, such as free association, which is the ability to maintain self-government along with a voluntary and mutual partnership with a sovereign state.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
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The voluntary program allows people who have two years or less of their sentence remaining to serve the rest of their time in a center that offers help with reentering the community.—
Alene Tchekmedyian,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The arrest and recent imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu sent shockwaves through Turkey, marking a decisive shift toward full autocracy.—
Bilal Bilici,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2025
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Alessia Russo’s double was decisive in setting up a semi against eight-time winners Lyon.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The key just lies in understanding proportions, mixing textures, and adding the right accessories to take a look from casual to more intentional.—
Ruhama Wolle,
Glamour,
3 Apr. 2025
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Closing that gap across hierarchy and geography requires intentional and consistent communication from the CEO.—
Elizabeth Baskin,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposeful. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
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