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Showing results for all-purpose. Search instead for not-purpose.
Definitions

all-purpose

[awl-pur-puhs] / ˈɔlˈpɜr pəs /
ADJECTIVE
all-round
Synonyms
STRONGEST
all-around multifaceted well-rounded
WEAK
adaptable flexible many-sided protean
ADJECTIVE
many-sided
Synonyms
WEAK
able accomplished adaptable adroit all-around all-round ambidextrous conversant dexterous elastic facile functional gifted handy ingenuous mobile multifaceted plastic pliable protean puttylike ready resourceful skilled skillful talented variable varied various
ADJECTIVE
multifaceted
Synonyms
STRONGEST
all-round varied various
WEAK
able accomplished adaptable adroit all-around ambidextrous conversant dexterous elastic facile functional gifted handy ingenuous many-sided mobile plastic pliable protean puttylike ready resourceful skilled skillful talented variable
Antonyms
STRONGEST
same similar
ADJECTIVE
protean
Synonyms
STRONGEST
multifaceted
WEAK
able accomplished adaptable adroit all-around all-round ambidextrous conversant dexterous elastic facile functional gifted handy ingenuous many-sided mobile plastic pliable puttylike ready resourceful skilled skillful talented variable varied various
ADJECTIVE
useful
Synonyms
STRONGEST
advantageous appropriate convenient effective favorable fruitful good handy helpful practical pragmatic profitable proper suitable
STRONG
utile
WEAK
applied brave commodious fit functional instrumental meet of assistance of service of use practicable propitious purposive salutary serviceable subsidiary suited toward
Antonyms
STRONGEST
awkward bad disadvantageous disagreeable harmful hurtful impotent improper inappropriate incapable inconvenient injurious misbehaving unacceptable unfitting unhandy unhelpful unproductive unskilled unsuitable unsuited useless worthless
WEAK
unusable unvaluable
ADJECTIVE
versatile
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accomplished adaptable all-around functional gifted resourceful skilled skillful talented
WEAK
able adroit ambidextrous conversant dexterous elastic facile handy ingenuous many-sided mobile multifaceted plastic pliable protean puttylike ready variable varied
Antonyms
STRONGEST
dull incapable inept unable untalented
WEAK
inflexible limited unadjustable

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Then I come back in with a second pass: an all-purpose spray.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

Fewer all-purpose unitary councils are expected to save money and be simpler for residents.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

One undisputed example of contracts that went awry is $6 million allotted to AllHere, a tech startup that was hired to design an all-purpose, artificial intelligence chatbot for L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Nowadays, the industry uses more effective cleaners, such as peracetic acid, a kind of all-purpose antimicrobial agent used in hospital cleaners, produce washes, and meat processing.

From Slate • Feb. 13, 2026

If you look considerably slimmer, diary, it’s only because you have been my all-purpose supply book.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez