Synonyms for purposive
- adjective
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Purposeful — done or performed with a conscious purpose or intent
purposeful, deliberate, conscious, intentional, voluntary, advertent
2. Resolute — possessed of a firm purpose
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Done or performed with a conscious purpose or intent.
Most human activity is purposive.
- adj. 2
Possessed of a firm purpose.
I had a purposive air about me that night.
Related words
- Word family
- purposively purposiveness purposivism purposivity purposeful
- Phrases
- purposive approach
Example sentences
- conscious I was not conscious what in fact I was doing then.
- deliberate You must be deliberate in selecting a partner.
- intentional Tom suggested that what Mary did was intentional.
- purposeful Tom went about his job with a purposeful intent.
- determined I was determined to fulfill my duties at any cost.
- useful Rocks and minerals are useful for us in many ways.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| purposive | steady | |
| conscious | rising | |
| deliberate | steady | |
| intentional | rising | |
| purposeful | rising | |
| determined | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 6 letters
- useful2
- 8 letters
- resolute3
- 9 letters
- conscious2, voluntary4, advertent
- 10 letters
- determined3, deliberate4, purposeful3
- 11 letters
- intentional4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (useful2 = 2 syllables).