cathartic
adjective
\
Definition of cathartic
(Entry 1 of 2)
: of, relating to, or producing catharsis cathartic drugs a cathartic experience
cathartic
noun
\
Definition of cathartic (Entry 2 of 2)
: a medicine that causes the bowels to be purged (see purge entry 1 sense 2a) : purgative
Keep scrolling for more
Other words from cathartic
Adjective
\
adverb
Examples of cathartic in a Sentence
Adjective
There's something cathartic about a punch in the nose. —Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated, 28 Jan. 2002 But Vietnam is hard to sell as a tidy, cathartic morality tale of troubled times overcome. —Jennifer Homans, New Republic, 2 & 9 Dec. 2002 Many veterans, at first reluctant to speak, ultimately uncorked their emotions in a cathartic explosion. —Stanley Karnow, New York Times Book Review, 22 Nov. 1992 It provokes no healthy tears, whereas Cervantes never fails … to open the cathartic floodgates. —Anthony Burgess, Homage to Qwert Yuiop: Selected Journalism 1978-1985, 1986
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
The writers deal with death frankly and absurdly, making the whole thing hilarious and cathartic. — Emily Dreyfuss, WIRED, "9 Emmy-Nominated Shows You Can Binge to Escape Reality," 13 July 2018 No doubt a certain pall hangs over the film, perhaps inevitable with the subject, and aided by the cathartic candor of most interviewees. — Graham Ambrose, BostonGlobe.com, "Darkness and light in Whitney Houston documentary," 4 July 2018 For progressives, the spectacle was thrilling, uplifting, and cathartic. — Eric Levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "On Guns, Liberals Are Flirting With the Politics of Fear. That’s Scary.," 22 Feb. 2018 Watching the second season of The Handmaid’s Tale over the last three months hasn’t been an experience anyone would describe as cathartic, or gratifying, or even intermittently escapist. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, "A Maddening Season Finale for The Handmaid’s Tale," 11 July 2018 Dopeness: 9/10, very cathartic to see a dinosaur literally use its head to break out of prison. 5. — Emma Stefansky, GQ, "The Definitive Jurassic Park Dinosaur Power Rankings," 21 June 2018 Just to be part of such an emotionally unanimous gathering of humanity was cathartic. — Doug Maccash, NOLA.com, "Aerosmith sings for the years, laughter and tears at Jazz Fest 2018," 5 May 2018 This Is Us is back — with a feature-length film likewise imbued with cathartic properties. — refinery29.com, "The Creator Of This Is Us Wants You To Weep Over Oscar Isaac," 10 July 2018 Which is why the transition to the dance feels so cathartic. — Jaya Saxena, GQ, "This Fucked Me Up: David Byrne Dancing with a Lamp," 3 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cathartic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for cathartic
cathartic
adjective
\
Medical Definition of cathartic
(Entry 1 of 2)
: of, relating to, or producing catharsis
cathartic
nounMedical Definition of cathartic (Entry 2 of 2)
: a cathartic medicine : purgative
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on cathartic
What made you want to look up cathartic? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Musical Words Quiz
-
- Which word describes a musical performance marked by the absence of instrumental accompaniment?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Share cathartic
Resources for cathartic