as in deliberate
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing
facial tics and other unconscious movements that one would not normally call purposive actions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of purposive
Strengthening transcendence, with its associated behaviors of being purposive, inspired, optimistic, creative, and future-oriented, helps to broaden your perspective and see beyond the immediate challenges.
—
Mary Crossan, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
For Defoe, meaning is purposive and theological, purposive because theological.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2022
Sporadic outbursts of feeling are converted into purposive and unremitting activity.
—Aldous Huxley, Harper's Magazine, 17 Aug. 2021
Mary Crossan, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
For Defoe, meaning is purposive and theological, purposive because theological.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2022
Sporadic outbursts of feeling are converted into purposive and unremitting activity.
—Aldous Huxley, Harper's Magazine, 17 Aug. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposive
Adjective
-
This reframes usage as deliberate practice rather than digital grazing.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
To this end, instead of complexity, the team showed that deliberate simplification (a minimalist molecule) is the key.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Many multifamily operators are deeply brand-conscious.—
Tyler Christiansen,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Libra is, after all, the sign of the scales — a Cardinal energy that initiates connection while making the conscious effort to surround itself with beauty.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Debtor filed a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Earlier this year, LNK International issued a voluntary recall of its Kirkland Signature Severe Cold & Flu Plus Congestion medication sold at Costco due to a batch mistakenly being released after it was rejected for potential foreign material contamination.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Two innings later, Kershaw hit Aaron Rowand — a beaning that was deemed intentional.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Leaders can schedule intentional slow phases after major sprints for reflection, skill-building, or lighter workloads.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Beck took ownership of his two interceptions — one that came late in the first half with Miami trying to pad its lead before the break, the second which was tipped by Malachi Toney on its way to its intended target in Tony Johnson.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
-
To successfully operationalize GenAI, businesses must double down on focus—first, with FLMs and their domain-specific data training, and second, with focused domain usage, by defining knowledge anchors for intended use.—
Scott Zoldi,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Parker will play Mary Washington, George’s strong willed mother, while Rodgers will play Sally Cary, the charming beauty of the Virginia gentry who first sees his potential.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Claiborne said the property was eventually willed to Vanderbilt University, which in turn sold it to the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County in 1968.—
Austin Hornbostel,
The Tennessean,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purposive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposive. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share