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Word History of Catharsis and Cathartic
Catharsis and cathartic both trace to the Greek word kathairein, meaning “to cleanse, purge.” Catharsis entered English as a medical term having to do with purging the body—and especially the bowels—of unwanted material. The adjective cathartic entered English with a meaning descriptive of such a physically cleansing purge. It didn’t take long for people to start using these words figuratively in reference to emotional release and spiritual cleansing.
Examples of catharsis in a Sentence
She has learned to have her catharsis, take a deep breath and move on. … she does not dwell on the negative anymore.
—
Selena Roberts, New York Times, 24 June 2001
… malevolence is expressed in his decision to absent himself from the courtroom, thereby denying some victims of his torture the catharsis of compelling him to hear their stories of survival.
—George F. Will, Newsweek, 25 May 1987
… there's the need for catharsis. If you play it all back a second time, you may wear away some of the pain, as you wear away a record with replaying.
—Anatole Broyard, New York Times Book Review, 14 Nov. 1982
As soon as we emerged from the gates of the White House, I became aware of that sea of faces. … I wanted to cry for them and with them, but it was impossible to permit the catharsis of tears.
—Lady Bird Johnson 24 Nov. 1963,
in A White House Diary, 1970
Acting is a means of catharsis for her.
Painting is a catharsis for me.
Selena Roberts, New York Times, 24 June 2001
… malevolence is expressed in his decision to absent himself from the courtroom, thereby denying some victims of his torture the catharsis of compelling him to hear their stories of survival.
—George F. Will, Newsweek, 25 May 1987
… there's the need for catharsis. If you play it all back a second time, you may wear away some of the pain, as you wear away a record with replaying.
—Anatole Broyard, New York Times Book Review, 14 Nov. 1982
As soon as we emerged from the gates of the White House, I became aware of that sea of faces. … I wanted to cry for them and with them, but it was impossible to permit the catharsis of tears.
—Lady Bird Johnson 24 Nov. 1963,
in A White House Diary, 1970
Acting is a means of catharsis for her.
Painting is a catharsis for me.
Recent Examples on the Web
More than a musical catharsis, the project became a chance for Fogerty to share his legacy directly with his sons.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
This is perhaps the most personal work of the Mexican singer, who recently went through a similar episode, and this is a catharsis.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 22 Aug. 2025
My favorite thing about playing her is subverting that expectation over the course of her journey in the show, as sort of my emotional catharsis.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
The catharsis of her defeat is twofold: Not only is Gladys taken down, but her demise also comes at the hands of the children she’s captured.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catharsis
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Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
This is perhaps the most personal work of the Mexican singer, who recently went through a similar episode, and this is a catharsis.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 22 Aug. 2025
My favorite thing about playing her is subverting that expectation over the course of her journey in the show, as sort of my emotional catharsis.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
The catharsis of her defeat is twofold: Not only is Gladys taken down, but her demise also comes at the hands of the children she’s captured.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catharsis
Cite this Entry
“Catharsis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catharsis. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
catharsis
noun
ca·thar·sis
variants
also katharsis
plural catharses also katharses
-ˌsēz 
1
2
: elimination of a complex by bringing it to consciousness and affording it expression compare abreaction
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