1
as in intentionally
with full awareness of what one is doing
he purposefully chose the more difficult route to the mountain summit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hard
with great effort or determination
strode purposefully into the boss's office, determined to ask for a raise
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of purposefully
Designer pieces are styled purposefully to look undone or not fully completed.
—
Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
There is an official timekeeper who purposefully faces away from the drum to avoid any perception of bias.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 11 May 2026
At the same time, our public education system is being purposefully sabotaged by corporate elites seeking to sow doubt about our public schools in order to redirect public money straight into their pockets.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 8 May 2026
One of those blew up on its landing attempt while another was purposefully expended to get its payload to a higher orbital insertion.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
The agency previously prided itself on the program’s impartiality and, in an effort to protect its science from the influence of industry, purposefully kept the program separate from the agency offices that craft regulation.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 1 May 2026
Valentino Cash Amil, 30, was accused of purposefully using his 2024 Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan to strike Dannielle Spillman, 74, outside a gas station on April 13.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
When public outcry over the Wuhan lab and gain-of-function research increased, the indictment claims that Morens and co-conspirators purposefully moved government communications to private emails in order to hide them from the public.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Bain walked purposefully, never slowing, never stopping — not even to size himself up in his new Bucs hat in the mirror — before striding onstage for a hug with the commissioner.
—Zak Keefer, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
There is an official timekeeper who purposefully faces away from the drum to avoid any perception of bias.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 11 May 2026
At the same time, our public education system is being purposefully sabotaged by corporate elites seeking to sow doubt about our public schools in order to redirect public money straight into their pockets.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 8 May 2026
One of those blew up on its landing attempt while another was purposefully expended to get its payload to a higher orbital insertion.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
The agency previously prided itself on the program’s impartiality and, in an effort to protect its science from the influence of industry, purposefully kept the program separate from the agency offices that craft regulation.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 1 May 2026
Valentino Cash Amil, 30, was accused of purposefully using his 2024 Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan to strike Dannielle Spillman, 74, outside a gas station on April 13.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
When public outcry over the Wuhan lab and gain-of-function research increased, the indictment claims that Morens and co-conspirators purposefully moved government communications to private emails in order to hide them from the public.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Bain walked purposefully, never slowing, never stopping — not even to size himself up in his new Bucs hat in the mirror — before striding onstage for a hug with the commissioner.
—Zak Keefer, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposefully
Adverb
-
Both sides accuse the other of intentionally attacking civilian targets.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
-
For Nanos, much of the public criticism overlooks the realities of how complex criminal investigations unfold, especially when detectives are intentionally withholding information to protect the integrity of the case.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
The right idea should expand your world without making your life harder to manage.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
-
Being shut out of public spaces and opportunities makes reintegration harder, not easier.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Adverb
-
Amenities and experiences Wellness at Terrestre is deliberately low-tech but highly impactful.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
Throughout her career, the actor has deliberately chosen powerful, complex roles and founded the Geena Davis Institute to combat unconscious bias and increase representation in entertainment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Adverb
-
By the end of the seventeenth century, sassafras had become one of the primary exports of the early English colony of Jamestown, and the aromatic bark was harvested intensively for shipment to European markets.—
Kari Traylor,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Armed with subpoenas, the Secret Service and other agencies are intensively focusing on what might have caused the suspect to book a room at the Washington Hilton, less than two miles north of the White House, on the night of the annual dinner.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
But the videos are purposely lower production value than a traditional ad.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
-
Democrats and protestors said the map purposely spreads Memphis' 64%-Black population into three majority-White districts.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Adverb
-
The diagnosis came as a shock to Tovado, who had no family history of colon cancer and had been diligently getting annual physicals as a fighter pilot in the military.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 May 2026
-
Administrators, teachers and staff work diligently to communicate with students and their families that student safety is a top priority.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Adverb
-
That said, human-like chatbots like ChatGPT are an intensely personal technology, even more so than the social media platforms that came before them.—
Maggie Harrison Dupré,
Futurism,
14 May 2026
-
Though the sport can be seen as intensely masculine to the point of toxicity sometimes, Cipriano and Kalyn credit series creators Louisa Levy and Gina Fattore with painting the athletes in a more sensitive and emotionally aware light.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Adverb
-
After the Lakers dropped a 125-107 decision, James and his teammates were standing near midcourt, listening intently as Austin Reaves demonstratively spoke to referees.—
Jason Jones,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
-
These qualities also tie her to Enyedi herself, who looks as intently and open-mindedly as Grete does.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purposefully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposefully. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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