1
as in resolute
fully committed to achieving a goal
a soft-spoken but purposeful criminal investigator
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
As is the case with everything Kendrick Lamar does, especially throughout his beef with Drake, his Apple Music Super Bowl LIX halftime show included a few easter eggs and caused fans to theorize about other aspects of the show that may not have actually been so purposeful.
—
Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 10 Feb. 2025
Since retaking office, Trump has created so much purposeful chaos — including at federal agencies that are being gutted by the day — that journalists can barely keep up.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 9 Feb. 2025
The current government’s purposeful misrepresentation and defamation of DEI in such a comprehensively cruel and malicious manner deserves nothing less than personal and communal outrage and resistance.
—Dr. Tony Lux, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2025
So Far Malita Picasso, a staff attorney for the ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Project, says the confusion around the policy is purposeful.
—Fortesa Latifi, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 10 Feb. 2025
Since retaking office, Trump has created so much purposeful chaos — including at federal agencies that are being gutted by the day — that journalists can barely keep up.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 9 Feb. 2025
The current government’s purposeful misrepresentation and defamation of DEI in such a comprehensively cruel and malicious manner deserves nothing less than personal and communal outrage and resistance.
—Dr. Tony Lux, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2025
So Far Malita Picasso, a staff attorney for the ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Project, says the confusion around the policy is purposeful.
—Fortesa Latifi, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purposeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposeful
Adjective
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The resolute horse nudges the keg forward across challenging terrain and is unwavering in the desire to achieve the goal of delivering the keg of Budweiser beer.—
Todd Holmes,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
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The tantrums on social media and stern, tough-guy prose from behind the resolute desk are getting results and moving various countries to cater to his whims or reassess their previous positions.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This condition is what philosopher Charles Mills, speaking of the American context, labeled epistemological ignorance—a deliberate unknowing, an insistence on the myth of white superiority, of white exceptionalism.—
Christine Winter,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
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The site of bitter urban fighting for much of last year, including the deliberate demolition of towering highrises by both sides, Toretsk—or what was left of it—fell to Russian forces in early February.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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And just like Chastain once adamantly refused to change his ways, Hocevar also didn’t sound like someone intent on changing.—
Jordan Bianchi,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
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Powell recalled how his mother was intent on testifying before Congress to clear her name and shine a light on the bullying tactics that the government was employing.—
Jevon Phillips,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The Vatican said Sunday that Francis was using oxygen, was conscious and apparently experiencing discomfort associated with his trouble breathing.—
Elisabetta Povoledo,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
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The Vatican said Sunday that Francis was conscious and still receiving supplemental oxygen.—
Nicole Winfield,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Last year, another mystery flu-like illness that killed dozens of people in another part of Congo was determined to be likely malaria.—
Jean-Yves Kamale,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2025
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In sum, Washington should focus less on the positive-sum project of globalizing the liberal order and more on the zero-sum imperative of stopping determined adversaries from imposing their own, antithetical visions of how the world should work.—
HAL BRANDS,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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There will be three members to the firing squad team − voluntary corrections staff − and all will stand behind a wall with loaded rifles 15 feet from the inmate.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA TODAY,
22 Feb. 2025
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Johnson also can lay out his vision for the voluntary offseason program, which can begin April 7 for teams that hired new head coaches.—
Brad Biggs,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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There was a really individual and decisive creative community in Portland, in music and in the visual arts, in writing and in filmmaking.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
18 Feb. 2025
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Expect goals, expect drama, and if Madrid find themselves behind in the dying stages, expect to see Bellingham as the game’s decisive figure… again.—
Mark Carey,
The Athletic,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Replay assist was used in 2024 to pick up flags thrown for roughing the passer (contact with head/neck), unnecessary roughness (runner out of bounds), intentional grounding and ineligible player downfield.—
Rob Maaddi,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2025
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Whether the timing of the broadcast was intentional or not, Knauf was cautious in his wording about his time working with the Sussexes.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
Fox News,
26 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to purposeful
Cite this Entry
“Purposeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposeful. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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