Purpose
Purpose noun - Something that one hopes or intends to accomplish.
Usage example: the purpose of the research is to discover how the virus is transmitted
Target is a synonym for purpose in intention topic. In some cases you can use "Target" instead the word "Purpose" as a noun or a verb, when it comes to topics like address, aim, use, objective. popular alternative
Target
Target noun - Something that one hopes or intends to accomplish.
Usage example: our target is to raise $100,000 for a new playground by August
Purpose is a synonym for target in aim topic. You can use "Purpose" instead the word "Target" as a noun or a verb, if it concerns topics such as address, plan, objective, planned. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
How words are described
| good | good purpose | good target |
| particular | particular purpose | particular target |
| better | better purpose | better target |
| usual | usual purpose | usual target |
| Other adjectives: common, specific, original, initial, true, valid, single, obvious, actual, real, main, important, ultimate, new, major, final, larger, primary, intended, different, said. | ||
Common collocations
| anyone | purpose anyone | target anyone |
Both words in one sentence
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In the US series, Frank Underwood undertakes a similar gambit (to a different end), but as his target is Russo himself, it wouldn't have made sense to use Christina, and so the prostitute Rachel serves this purpose instead.
Source: Decomposite Character -
The one and only time he missed his target, he'd done so on purpose, just to see what missing the target felt like.
Source: Improbable Aiming Skills - When the Cutie Mark Crusaders were introduced, they were feared to be annoying one-note characters who didn't serve any purpose other than being more relatable to the series' target audience.
Cite this Source
Target and Purpose. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/purpose/target
Purpose & Target. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/purpose/target>.
Target or Purpose. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/purpose/target.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "purpose" and "target" have occurred on timeline