as in to restore
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially
a day on which the faithful are expected to purge themselves of their sins through prayer and fasting
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Recent Examples of purge
President Donald Trump’s sweeping efforts to purge the federal workforce have dealt a striking one-two punch to an already largely vulnerable population: America’s veterans.
—
Melissa Chan, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2025
Now, 72 hours after being purged because they were considered probationary workers, a biting reality has set in for many of them.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
But as Musk’s team scours the federal government, looking to purge scores of employees, the president’s opponents continue to warn about the ramifications, both personal and national.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Though many of these have now been restored, thousands of pages were purged of references to gender and diversity initiatives, for example, and others including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) website remain down.
—IEEE Spectrum, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purge
Melissa Chan, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2025
Now, 72 hours after being purged because they were considered probationary workers, a biting reality has set in for many of them.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
But as Musk’s team scours the federal government, looking to purge scores of employees, the president’s opponents continue to warn about the ramifications, both personal and national.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Though many of these have now been restored, thousands of pages were purged of references to gender and diversity initiatives, for example, and others including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) website remain down.
—IEEE Spectrum, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purge
Verb
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The safest way to restore shine without damage is to use high-quality wood polish, according to Shimek.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2025
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That includes restoring staffing at embassies, which in recent years were hit hard by mutual expulsions of large numbers of diplomats, closures of offices and other restrictions.—
JILL LAWLESS AND AAMER MADHANI THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Safer alternatives are gentle cleansing with water and mild soap for the outer areas.—
Brandi Jones, MSN-Ed,
Health,
6 Mar. 2025
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Sulfate-free surfactants aren't as cleansing as sulfate surfactants.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Pure Water project is intended to make the upgrades unnecessary because sewage from the plant will be purified at a new Miramar plant just east of Interstate 805, then stored in Lake Miramar reservoir near Interstate 15 and later piped to homes and businesses as potable water.—
Gary Warth,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Feb. 2025
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These raw forms of purifying agents hold higher concentrations of active ingredients.—
Bianca Salonga,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Pruning gives them time to heal before new spring growth starts.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2025
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Discussing how each of us experienced the past five years and its many stressors—and listening to others do the same—could be a way to heal the rifts that COVID has left in U.S. society.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purge. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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