single-minded

adjective

sin·​gle-mind·​ed ˌsiŋ-gəl-ˈmīn-dəd How to pronounce single-minded (audio)
ˈsiŋ-gəl-ˌmīn-
: having one driving purpose or resolve : determined, dedicated
single-mindedly adverb
single-mindedness noun

Examples of single-minded in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web These early peeks into the Fire Nation add depth to Zuko’s fractured family and his single-minded quest to come home. Devan Coggan, EW.com, 22 Feb. 2024 Where Bruce’s Batman is somber, single-minded, and driven, Dick’s Robin is ebullient, freewheeling, and eager for adventure. Josh Weiss, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 In their single-minded focus on raising birth rates, its leading proponents misunderstand the nature of the problem and offer solutions that may be counterproductive to their aims. Patrick T. Brown, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024 Jones shares how such a single-minded pursuit can consume one’s life, while the film falls in a cycle of repetitive actions. Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 21 Jan. 2024 Katz is among the least fickle of artists, and the overall impression at the Guggenheim was one of single-minded, stubborn idealism. David Salle, The New York Review of Books, 28 Dec. 2023 In his mind, that single-minded ambition was what landed him in Myanmar. Isabelle Qian, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2023 Known for his single-minded focus and fearless determination on the track, Senna also possessed an uncanny, almost intuitive connection to his machine. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2023 And in its single-minded pursuit to destroy Hamas, Israel appears to have ceded the initiative for planning what should happen after the war ends to its Western allies, even though its military operations will set the limits of what is feasible. Joost R. Hiltermann, Foreign Affairs, 22 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'single-minded.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of single-minded was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near single-minded

Cite this Entry

“Single-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single-minded. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

single-minded

adjective
sin·​gle-mind·​ed
-ˈmīn-dəd
: having only one purpose : determined
a single-minded devotion to stopping crime
single-mindedly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on single-minded

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