purposelessly
- adverb
- /ˈpɜr.pəs.ləs.li/
:
sin rumbo
- The room was highly reflective, though it was well aware that no special aptitude was required to be constantly reminded that time passes and everything with it, purposelessly.
Examples
-
People appear to wander purposelessly in the courtyard.
Academic text (2017) -
In the busy train station, travelers often stand purposelessly, unsure of their next move.
-
It is not a place in front of which people would purposelessly hang out.
Academic text (2018) -
Babies flail their arms uncontrollably and purposelessly for months before they can direct them in a particular way for a particular purpose.
Academic text (2009) -
At the Grand Mosque, we waited, it seemed at the time purposelessly, in a small courtyard of citrus trees, caught as it were between the ornate entry doorway from the street and the closed door into the mosque itself.
Academic text (2011) -
The children ran around the playground purposelessly, simply enjoying their freedom without any specific game in mind.
-
He sat on the bench, purposelessly browsing through his phone, not really looking for anything in particular.
Synonyms
37
3.7
To act in a lazy way without a clear purpose
24
3.7
Without a clear purpose, direction, or plan
11
5.8
Without thinking or paying attention
4
6.0
In a way that has no good reason or purpose
4
4.3
In a way that has no purpose or use
1
5.9
In a way that has no clear purpose or reason
Antonyms
How Purposeful
Surface Forms
Morphology
purposelessly = purposeless (transparent) = purpose + less + ly
The adverb is a regular derivation from the adjective 'purposeless' using the productive suffix '-ly'.
Etymology
Purposelessly is made from purpose ('aim' or 'plan') plus -less ('without') and -ly (an adverb ending). So to do something purposelessly is to act 'without a purpose', which explains the word's modern meaning.