1
as in goal
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish
the purpose of the research is to discover how the virus is transmitted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in role
the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists
still trying to discover her purpose in life
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to plan
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
I've been purposing to fix that thing for some time now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of purpose
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
2 July 2026
My history has been shaped by hardship, self-discovery and a relentless pursuit of purpose.
—
Mikhail Shneyder,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The sensor will collect data for officiating purposes, such as last-touch out-of-bounds calls.
—
Zach Powell,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
But however inspiration struck, this weather cover will serve an incredible purpose.
—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for purpose
Noun
Elsewhere, Priya Srinivasan, chief people and purpose officer, has decided to step down for personal reasons and will leave the beauty company in August.
—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
2 July 2026
My history has been shaped by hardship, self-discovery and a relentless pursuit of purpose.
—
Mikhail Shneyder,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The sensor will collect data for officiating purposes, such as last-touch out-of-bounds calls.
—
Zach Powell,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
But however inspiration struck, this weather cover will serve an incredible purpose.
—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for purpose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purpose
Noun
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Balogun matched Landon Donovan in 2010 for the second-most goals by an American in a World Cup, behind only Bert Patenaude's four in the initial tournament in 1930.
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Controversial red card looms large The story of the game to that point was Folarin Balogun, who scored a goal in the 45th minute and then was given a controversial red card in the second half.
Noun
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In her role as assistant county administrator, Cobbins coordinated alongside the local fire and police departments, municipal court system, city public works and more.
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Boston first baseman Willson Contreras and Washington starter Cade Cavalli each received seven-game suspensions and undisclosed fines for their roles in the fourth-inning altercation.
Verb
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Future projects being planned in the central city for delivery over the next five years will include other office-to-apartment conversions and new housing built from the ground up.
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Lawmakers plan to direct the Department of Finance to present the Legislature with options for how to do that.
Noun
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The deal, the fruit of months of negotiations, takes aim at the lucrative way doctors can charge for procedures on patients referred to them by personal injury lawyers.
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The aim is to adjust portfolios for risk while remaining invested through market fluctuations.
Noun
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Traditional studios might adopt Chinese models for some preproduction tasks such as concepting, but the geopolitical and intellectual property risks for commercial generations are too prohibitive.
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Robots sound safer The wearable audio system converts nearby robot movements into dynamic warning sounds, helping workers anticipate robotic actions without interrupting their tasks.
Verb
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Key to watch for will be how a new government intends to tackle Britain's debt burden and revive sluggish growth without driving borrowing costs even higher.
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While these drugs can be life-changing for many people, they are not always intended to be permanent.
Noun
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Update a short bio that matches your message, then carry that energy into a meeting where your voice sets the tone with clear intention.
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To speak an intention was to limit the luminous sensation of possibility.
Noun
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Lee Feldman held the job for seven years until he was fired in 2018 by the commission.
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Proponents of the authorization note that the $155 million investment arrives four years after a severe drought in the Sacramento Valley in 2022 had cost local communities hundreds of millions of dollars and roughly 1,500 jobs.
Cite this Entry
“Purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purpose. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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