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

He also caught a touchdown pass in the game while accumulating 232 all-purpose yards.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

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

Until a couple of centuries ago, they served as an all-purpose, neutral pronoun—singular and plural, masculine and feminine.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

all-purpose

Example Sentences

Related Words