purposeful

adjective

pur·​pose·​ful ˈpər-pəs-fəl 

1

: having a purpose: such as

a

: meaningful

purposeful activities

b

: intentional

purposeful ambiguity

2

: full of determination

was soft-spoken but purposeful

purposefully

ˈpər-pəs-fə-lē 

adverb

purposefulness noun

Synonyms

• bent (on or upon)
• bound
• decisive
• determined
• do-or-die
• firm
• hell-bent (on or upon)
• intent
• out
• resolute
• resolved
• set
• single-minded

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

The McCleskey decision found that statistical racial disparities in convictions were not enough to show discrimination and that purposeful racial discrimination needed to be proven. —Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2025

Companies that excel at fostering these purposeful interactions will drive innovation and performance, whether those meetings happen in an office, a co-working space or online. —Andrei Cretu, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

The call to live a purposeful existence is accentuated during Pisces season. —USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025

Monochromatic interiors match the earthy hues of the desert, and internal courtyards allow for quiet moments of reflection, while light wells and geometric sunroofs provide tons of natural light but also purposeful cross ventilation. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1