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 If accusing a player of purposeful bodily harm seems excessive, consider Embiid’s first-half rampage. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 14 June 2024 However, this recent ruling also highlights the fragility of our democracy as at the heart of the conviction was the purposeful deceit of the American people to aid Trump in his election to our nation’s highest office. Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 30 May 2024 And whichever way Abbott Elementary chooses to go from here, Janine and Gregory’s lovely, purposeful kiss throws the door wide open. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 May 2024 It was supposed to look like an athletic, purposeful sports car. Alex Goy, Ars Technica, 12 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for purposeful 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'purposeful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 7 Jul. 2024.

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