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

Undeveloped land supports essential ecosystem services, cleansing and protecting our drinking water, safeguarding our communities and residents from flooding and inundation due to sea-level rise, supporting wildlife habitat and providing myriad recreational opportunities. —Tom Hoctor, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026

From the outset, this was never championship or bust, but rather more a year to cleanse the stench of last season’s playoff-opening rout at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the most lopsided series loss in NBA postseason history. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026

Noun

Trendy micellar water contains tiny balls of oil molecules suspended in water and, in my opinion as a beauty expert, is better for a light cleanse and for those who wear minimal makeup or have sensitive skin. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026

Trendy micellar water contains tiny balls of oil molecules suspended in water and, in my opinion as a beauty expert, is better for a light cleanse and for those who wear minimal makeup or have sensitive skin. —Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 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