Synonyms

purposefully

American

[pur-puhs-fuh-lee] / ˈpɜr pəs fə li /

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.

Etymology

Origin of purposefully

purposeful ( def. ) + -ly

Compare meaning

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

purposely vs. purposefully

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But she purposefully avoided the scorched-earth narrative she might have leaned on a decade ago.

From The Wall Street Journal

I even went so far as to purposefully walk off with strangers or get lost in supermarkets.

From The Wall Street Journal

If it seems like Turner hasn’t been in a ton of projects since “Game of Thrones,” it’s because she’s been purposefully discerning.

From Los Angeles Times

Again and again, I observed Harvey navigate the madness like a seasoned cabbie: edging purposefully into traffic, claiming lane position, anticipating the flow of pedestrians, creeping forward to signal intent—not just smart but clever.

From The Wall Street Journal

“These were clearly and purposefully targeted at the federal government,” Davis told the court Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023