Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

on purpose

ADVERB
done of one's own free will
Synonyms
WEAK
after consideration by design calculatingly consciously deliberately designed freely in cold blood intentionally knowingly of one's own free will premeditatedly premeditatively purposefully purposely purposively voluntarily willfully with eyes wide open with full intent wittingly

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.

He says the creators are being "controversial on purpose" to generate more views, making him think it's "all a scheme" to make money.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

If a professional boxer loses a fight on purpose, it’s called a “dive” or “tanking” and it is illegal.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2026

NBA teams are increasingly losing games on purpose to improve their draft prospects and basketball must consider every possible remedy to stamp out deliberate "tanking," the league's chief said Saturday.

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

Once you see “special” as something you can make on purpose, it stops feeling rare or fragile.

From Salon • Feb. 10, 2026

Not that these things were left on purpose, but stuff simply got forgotten because they were no longer on the radar of critical possessions.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman