as in purification
the act or fact of freeing from sin or moral guilt
underwent a cleansing before he could enter the temple's most sacred chamber
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in purifying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in purging
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially
in an elaborate ritual the priestess cleansed the gathering of supplicants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cleaning
to remove the dirt from
cleanse the wound with soap and water before applying the bandage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of cleansing
Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2025
Start by cleansing the affected area with mild soap and warm water, then pat dry.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Jan. 2025
Caress Daily Silk Bar Soap Transform shower time while gently cleansing your skin with the refreshing fragrance and rich, creamy lather of the Caress Daily Silk Bar Soap.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Apply on face and neck after cleansing.
—Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
Over four songs that span the length of a feature film, Sumac turn The Healer into a beguiling feat of experimental metal that’s at once cleansing and terrifying.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2024
This four-piece kit features four of the brand’s top sellers, a standout of which is the cleansing oil—a lightweight formula packed with jojoba, safflower, and apricot kernel oil for hydration, plus green tea extract to soothe irritation, and ginseng and licorice extract for brightening.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Dec. 2024
That means two bottles of this delectable cream in all of its moisturizing, priming, and cleansing glory.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 29 Nov. 2024
Exfoliation should be done right after cleansing your face.
—Rio Viera-Newton, Vogue, 25 Nov. 2024
Verb
This silicone scrubber is my body cleansing agent of choice.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2025
Start by cleansing the affected area with mild soap and warm water, then pat dry.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Jan. 2025
Caress Daily Silk Bar Soap Transform shower time while gently cleansing your skin with the refreshing fragrance and rich, creamy lather of the Caress Daily Silk Bar Soap.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Apply on face and neck after cleansing.
—Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
Over four songs that span the length of a feature film, Sumac turn The Healer into a beguiling feat of experimental metal that’s at once cleansing and terrifying.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2024
This four-piece kit features four of the brand’s top sellers, a standout of which is the cleansing oil—a lightweight formula packed with jojoba, safflower, and apricot kernel oil for hydration, plus green tea extract to soothe irritation, and ginseng and licorice extract for brightening.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Dec. 2024
That means two bottles of this delectable cream in all of its moisturizing, priming, and cleansing glory.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 29 Nov. 2024
Exfoliation should be done right after cleansing your face.
—Rio Viera-Newton, Vogue, 25 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleansing
Noun
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Anna had been researching using photocatalysis for water purification, while Tomáš was working on a way to use cold plasma to destroy pollutants and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in agricultural and hospital wastewater streams.—
Erik Kobayashi-Solomon,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Both religions’ traditions focus on fasting as a means for spiritual growth, which Muslims might call spiritual purification, said Ahmed, of Morton Grove, who has ties to the Masjid-e-Suffah mosque in Skokie and holds a Ph.D in Islamic Studies with a specialty in comparative religions.—
Pam DeFiglio,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The psychic’s interventions seem to promise, through sheer power of suggestion, a cathartic measure of closure.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Think of the cathartic revenge against ardent acolytes of the Third Reich featured in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds and David Weil’s Hunters.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Pic delves into the relevant issue of prejudice, but in a funny and moving manner.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2025
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Filming this way adds time and complication: There are so many more moving parts, and for each new take of a scene, every patient and special effect has to be reset, and the entire set has to be cleaned and reorganized.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Lewis comes in ranked No. 9, so a victory from Teixeira—especially an impressive one—will likely land him in the Top 10.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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While his Jackhammer is an impressive feat of strength, the Spear is what made Goldberg a monster.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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For Liv in particular, their idea of what that final ride on the plane was going to be was an emotional one.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
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Her emotional response and (to be fair, unethical) choice to threaten the guy suggest to the viewer that Dr. Santos herself experienced a similar kind of trauma as a child.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cleansing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleansing. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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