View synonyms for

purposefully

[ pur-puhs-fuh-lee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

in a determined or resolute way:
Many runners break down in the marathon’s second half, but I stayed positive as I painfully and purposefully placed one foot in front of the other.
in a thoughtful and focused way, with a serious desire to accomplish something:
The Family Fun Cooking Classes are designed to educate, but more importantly, to encourage adults in our community to purposefully spend time with young people.
with intention; deliberately; purposely:
He maliciously and purposefully slammed the car door on my foot, resulting in a fracture.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of purposefully¹

purposeful ( def ) + -ly

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Compare Meanings

How does purposefully compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

purposely vs. purposefully

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The song's purposefully unsuited to radio – unlike the follow-up single, Lovesick Lullaby.

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Upon its release, some viewers were exasperated by the film’s purposefully opaque political commentary.

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Still, his choice to foreground particular aesthetics makes it seem as if series creator Jonathan Tropper purposefully wants to stoke certain urges.

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They very much are making contact officially with the outside world, and in this case, purposefully; obviously they made contact with the outside world earlier, and it goes very sideways.

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It largely works, as the purposefully rickety coaster prioritizes directional fake-outs over speed and thrills, and that alone sets it apart.

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Related Words

purposeful purposeless

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