Purposely vs Purposefully | Difference & Meaning
Purposely and purposefully are often used interchangeably to mean “on purpose” (e.g., “purposely/purposefully avoid someone”), but purposefully can also mean “with purpose” or “in a meaningful or determined way” (e.g., “walk confidently and purposefully”).
- I think he purposely/purposefully didn’t remind me about the deadline, hoping I’d forget.
- Do you think she’s purposely/purposefully avoiding me?
- The pricing plans are purposely/purposefully complicated so they’re difficult to compare with others.
- We need to approach these kinds of projects more purposefully next time, setting ourselves clearer goals.
- We need to approach these kinds of projects more purposely next time, setting ourselves clearer goals.
- She strode purposefully ahead, trying to set the pace.
- She strode purposely ahead, trying to set the pace.
According to this advice, you should always use purposely when the meaning is simply “intentionally/on purpose/deliberately.”
- I think he purposely didn’t remind me about the deadline.
- I think he purposefully didn’t remind me about the deadline.
- Is she purposely avoiding me?
- Is she purposefully avoiding me?
- The pricing plans are purposely complicated.
- The pricing plans are purposefully complicated.
Purposefully meaning
The adverb purposefully means “determinedly,” “calculatedly,” or “meaningfully.” It is often used to describe people’s physical actions, when it frequently combines with the verbs “walk,” “move,” and “stride.”
But how can you use your time at the gym more purposefully?
Purposefully is also commonly used synonymously with “purposely” to mean “intentionally” or “deliberately,” but some style guides recommend only using “purposely” in this context.
Purposely meaning
The adverb purposely means “intentionally” or “deliberately” (i.e., the opposite of “accidentally”). It frequently combines with the adjectives “vague,” “misleading,” “ambiguous,” and “deceptive.”
We purposely selected subjects who had lived in the city for five years or more.
- Use purposely if you mean “deliberately,” “intentionally,” or “on purpose” (e.g., “I purposely left the book on the table so I wouldn’t forget to take it in the morning”).
- Use purposefully if you want to say that something is being done in a particularly “determined,” “calculated,” or “meaningful” way (e.g. “The funding needs to be directed much more purposefully if it is to be effective”).
Frequently asked questions about purposely vs purposefully
- What is a synonym for purposefully?
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Synonyms for the adverb purposefully include:
- Determinedly
- Meaningfully
- Calculatedly
- Methodically
- Resolutely
On a related note, it sometimes matters if you use purposely or purposefully because they are not always interchangeable.
You can use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find the best synonym for “purposefully” in your specific context.
- What is a synonym for on purpose?
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Synonyms for the phrase on purpose include:
- Intentionally
- Deliberately
- Purposely or purposefully
- Consciously
- Willfully
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Paraphraser? You can use it to help you find the best synonym for “on purpose” in your specific context.
