GENERAL-PURPOSE Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

general-purpose

adjective

ˈjen-rəl-ˈpər-pəs

Definition of general-purpose

as in unlimited

not limited or specialized in application or purpose a general-purpose glue for routine household repairs

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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 general-purpose To fix this, the researchers replace it with a general-purpose Linux distribution, giving them a more programmable environment and allowing the cluster to behave more like conventional compute infrastructure. — New Atlas, 2 July 2026 And more recently, a new general-purpose AI system from OpenAI disproved an important conjecture in combinatorial geometry. — Benjamin Skuse, IEEE Spectrum, 25 June 2026 Recently, ShengShu Technology unveiled Motubrain, a unified AI model that combines perception, reasoning, and action to provide a general-purpose brain for robots. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026 Part of what is driving that speed, according to Matt Robinson, a partner at Accel and cofounder of GoCardless, is that AI is a general-purpose technology—one that can be dropped into almost any sector and immediately create value. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for general-purpose

Recent Examples of Synonyms for general-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 four players are all currently under contract through at least the 2028-29 season, which is when Brown and Embiid could become unrestricted free agents.

— Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Oubre, a 6-foot-8, 30-year-old New Orleans native was an unrestricted free agent after playing the past three seasons of an 11-year career with Philadelphia.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026

Definition of unrestricted

Browse Nearby Words

general practitioners

general-purpose

generals

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“General-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/general-purpose. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of general-purpose

adjective

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