ALL-PURPOSE Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

all-purpose

adjective

ˈȯl-ˈpər-pəs

Definition of all-purpose

as in unlimited

not limited or specialized in application or purpose there's nothing wrong with all-purpose flour for baking bread, but flour with more gluten is better

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 all-purpose To make them, sift together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons sugar in a large bowl. — Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026 Whisk 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt together in large bowl. — ABC News, 29 June 2026 Thorstenson recommends applying organic fish emulsion throughout the growing season as a balanced all-purpose fertilizer. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026 Haynes had an electric junior season accounting for 3,552 all-purpose yards and 45 touchdowns while leading Whitney to a 10-3 record. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for all-purpose

Recent Examples of Synonyms for all-purpose

Adjective

One handed Republicans a potentially powerful new financial advantage by allowing political parties to spend unlimited amounts in coordination with candidates.

— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
Subscribe now to support our journalism and get unlimited access to our coverage.

— Lucy Boyle, Curbed, 1 July 2026

Definition of unlimited

Adjective

Little’s lack of response to a possible return that offseason resulted in general manager Ned Colletti pursuing other options.

— Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
While unions secured general salary increases last year to offset the salary reductions associated with the leave program, the agreements did not include similar increases in July 2026.

— William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of general

Adjective

The 13th-generation Intel Core i7 processor is one of our top picks for general-purpose mobile computing, designed from the ground up with power efficiency in mind.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 3 July 2026
The next phase of AI is less about announcing general-purpose models and more about embedding AI in workflows.

— Nimit Mehra, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of general-purpose

Browse Nearby Words

all-powerful

all-purpose

all right

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“All-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/all-purpose. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of all-purpose

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on all-purpose

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes