on purpose

phrase

Definition of on purposenext
as in intentionally
with full awareness of what one is doing I'm sorry, but I didn't knock the vase over on purpose.

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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 on purpose The music is low, and RooftopKC is reservation-only on purpose to keep the new spot relaxed. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026 Nonprofits can tap into clear alignment on purpose and priorities to position themselves for deeper support. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 But as Chief Justice Roberts observed, the men who wrote the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution after the Civil War defined citizenship in broad terms on purpose, rejecting the views of those who wanted to limit citizenship. — Nina Totenberg, NPR, 30 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

on pins and needles
on purpose
on record
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Cite this Entry

“On purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/on%20purpose. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on on purpose

Nglish: Translation of on purpose for Spanish Speakers

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