ca·thar·tic
kə-ˈthär-tik 
: of, relating to, or producing catharsis
cathartic drugs
a cathartic experience
: a medicine that causes the bowels to be purged (see purge entry 1 sense 2a) : purgative
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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 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
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
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Gazing inward, and taking a closer-than-ever look at the outside world, has been cathartic, emboldening — and absolutely refreshing.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
The One Day at a Time star has been open with followers over the year in her self-help journey, including sharing her own experiences on knowing when to let go, finding self-love and using journaling as a cathartic release online.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Her new life is the culmination of a metamorphosis that has been both soul-crushing and cathartic.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
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Adjective
But Bugonia won me over when that resentment finally exploded into cathartic violence.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Gazing inward, and taking a closer-than-ever look at the outside world, has been cathartic, emboldening — and absolutely refreshing.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
The One Day at a Time star has been open with followers over the year in her self-help journey, including sharing her own experiences on knowing when to let go, finding self-love and using journaling as a cathartic release online.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Her new life is the culmination of a metamorphosis that has been both soul-crushing and cathartic.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Cite this Entry
“Cathartic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cathartic. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cathartic
1 of 2 adjective
ca·thar·tic
kə-ˈthärt-ik
: of, relating to, or producing catharsis
cathartic
2 of 2 noun
: a cathartic medicine : purgative
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