cleanse

1 of 2

verb

ˈklenz 

cleansed; cleansing; cleanses

transitive verb

1

: clean

especially : to rid of impurities by or as if by washing

cleansed the wound

It's that mystical state most athletes are lucky to achieve a few times in their careers. The mind is cleansed. The body is free.

—Jon Wertheim

2

: to expel, imprison, or kill (the members of an ethnic minority) in (an area) : to subject to or remove by ethnic cleansing

In 1996, tens of thousands of ethnic Tutsis, most of them of Rwandan origin, were murdered or ethnically cleansed in the Masisi region of eastern Zaire.

—David Rieff

intransitive verb

: to engage in or undergo a cleanse to remove toxins from the body

Some people who cleanse say they experience dramatic physical changes.

—Karen Hube

cleanse

2 of 2

noun

: a very restrictive short-term diet primarily intended to remove toxins from the body

Under the supervision of her nutritionist … Gillian Anderson has reportedly participated in cleanses that consist of little more than liquids for 10 days.

—J. D. Heiman

… told me about her 28-day cleanse, which limits the caffeine, sugar, gluten, dairy and red meat in your diet.

—Jon Harris

Synonyms of cleanse

Verb

• purge

Examples of cleanse in a Sentence

Verb

The cut should be cleansed gently with mild soap and water.

in an elaborate ritual the priestess cleansed the gathering of supplicants

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Manon Coubia‘s gorgeous, whispering first feature is therefore not a film of major dramatic incidents and revelations, though its payoff is clear and cleansing as a mountain spring. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Feb. 2026

Before shampooing, apply this lightweight gel-cream formula to wet hair in sections before adding water and massaging thoroughly—this way, your actual shampoo can perform better and cleanse more effectively. —Lily Wohlner, Allure, 22 Feb. 2026

Noun

The newest launch, Plum Cleanse, is inspired by the favorite oil and clinically proven to support the skin's microbiome (no need to double cleanse). —Tory Johnson, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026

The best hydrating shampoos for curly hair cleanse without stripping, replenish moisture, and help curls spring back to life after wash day. —Jamie Wilson, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English clensen, from Old English clǣnsian to purify, from clǣne clean

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1999, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cleanse

• cleanse the palate

Rhymes for cleanse

• bens
• dens
• gens
• glens
• hens
• jens
• pens
• tens
• wrens
• zens
• cheyennes
• demesnes

Kids Definition

cleanse

verb

ˈklenz 

cleansed; cleansing

: to make clean

Medical Definition

cleanse

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈklenz

cleansed; cleansing

: to make clean

intransitive verb

: to engage in or undergo a cleanse to remove toxins from the body

cleanse

2 of 2 noun

: a very restrictive short-term diet primarily intended to remove toxins from the body