as in unlimited
not limited or specialized in application or purpose
a general-purpose glue for routine household repairs
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Recent Examples of general-purpose
At the center of this movement is OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, whose generative AI models represent a general-purpose capability—comparable to the steam engine or electric motor—that can amplify nearly every form of knowledge work.
—
Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Fertilizer Fertilize regularly during spring and summer with a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer, and water as needed.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026
But the systems that conquered chess and Go were purpose-built for those specific games, unlike general-purpose systems like Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
The Express Lane project will also add one general-purpose lane in each direction along I-485 between Rea Road and Providence Road, officials said.
—Mark Price
january 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for general-purpose
Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Fertilizer Fertilize regularly during spring and summer with a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer, and water as needed.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026
But the systems that conquered chess and Go were purpose-built for those specific games, unlike general-purpose systems like Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
The Express Lane project will also add one general-purpose lane in each direction along I-485 between Rea Road and Providence Road, officials said.
—Mark Price
january 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for general-purpose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for general-purpose
Adjective
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Fun Passholders, a monthly membership subscription that provides unlimited visits, will be able to redeem the offer without a game purchase.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
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Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Though framed as a request for information, Levine’s letter signals that Florida’s campaign against accrediting bodies — once focused on general university oversight — is expanding into medicine, one of the most tightly regulated sectors of higher education.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
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The second would be how friendly people are along King Drive in general.—
Kynala Phillips,
jsonline.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Panthers have 18 unrestricted free agents, a list that includes three offensive linemen, two specialists and a 1,000-yard rusher.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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During the evening, Maed Beauty founder Denise Vasi received an unrestricted $100,000 Sephora Beauty Grant.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“General-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/general-purpose. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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