cleanse

1 of 2

verb

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

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
Makeup remover/cleansing oil Do this step: At night only. Sarah Y. Wu, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2024 Made with natural oat extract, this Aveeno bath wash and shampoo is designed to cleanse, moisturize, and nourish your baby’s sensitive skin. Amanda Oliver, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 Fraud and graft exist everywhere in the world, albeit to different degrees, but the need for Ukraine to cleanse a culture of everyday ethical malfeasance is critical to its immediate future. James P. Moore Jr., Fortune Europe, 22 Feb. 2024 Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Glycolic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Kojic Acid, Licorice Root Extract Skin Type: Oily Skin, Normal Skin, Combination Skin Product Type: Serum Size: 30ml How to Apply: Apply to neck and chest after cleansing. Iman Balagam, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2024 With a variety of different modes to choose from, this device will not only cleanse your skin but remove any blackheads or buildup that may be sitting around too. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024 Hird says Russian efforts to cleanse occupied Ukraine and make its occupation permanent are reversible, at least for now. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 Daily regimens don't necessarily call for indulgence, and cleansing the skin and body requires a level of dedication. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2024 All the losing between then and now adds up, a kind of psychic weight, and getting out from under it after three decades is cleansing like nothing else. Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press, 24 Jan. 2024
Noun
Find it on Amazon This Body Brush To Exfoliate Fast Shower time just got a lot more fun with this Body Brush that will work to cleanse, massage, exfoliate, and pamper your skin to perfection. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024 The Benefits Beyond giving your scalp a thorough cleanse, a detox can potentially help prevent pressing skin concerns that can lead to other problems. Audrey Noble, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2024 Suds up with this Clarifying Detox Shampoo to remove pollution, product buildup, excess oil and heavy metals found in hard water for a deep cleanse that will keep your locks fresher for longer. Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The line launched with the Foundation collection, an assortment of eight products (housed in sculpture-like textured bottles) that cleanse, condition and strengthen hair. Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024 The toner made from hydrating watermelon extract contains vitamins and amino acids that minimize pores and moisturize, cleanse, and soothe skin. Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2024 Opt for a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to give your hair a thorough cleanse, too. Tish Weinstock, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2024 One of the kinds of data-broker sites Mozilla Monitor aims to help you cleanse of your details. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 6 Feb. 2024 Supplements can be dangerous for teens Teens may also embrace fads like fasting, juice or tea cleanses and supplements, which are especially used for bodybuilding and weight loss. Rochelle Koff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024

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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of cleanse was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near cleanse

Cite this Entry

“Cleanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleanse. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cleanse

verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on cleanse

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