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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 there is “drama,” that vague, all-purpose term that gives the film its title.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

The current 15 authorities and two levels of local government are due to be abolished and replaced with between three and five all-purpose unitary councils.

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

Warm, soapy water or a gentle all-purpose spray will take care of most surfaces.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

“Daniel Hudson Burnham was one of the handsomest men I ever saw,” said Paul Starrett, later to lead construction of the Empire State Building; he joined Burnham & Root in 1888 as an all-purpose helper.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.