cleanse

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

Synonyms of cleanse

• purge

Examples of cleanse in a Sentence

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

It can be used in many ways, including to clean surfaces, wash laundry, wipe windows, flush out faucets, and even cleanse fresh fruits and vegetables. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 June 2026

This cleanser brings a spa-like experience straight to your bathroom, thoroughly cleansing the skin without ever leaving it gasping for moisture. —Kieaundria Bellamy, InStyle, 29 May 2026

Next is purifying and hydrating with the Body Wash, which moisturizes and plumps skin while deeply cleansing pores, strengthening the skin barrier and triggering cellular regeneration. —Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

Enjoy a few minutes of peace in the shower while cleansing and moisturizing your skin. —Laura Lu, Parents, 22 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English clensen, from Old English clǣnsian to purify, from clǣne clean

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cleanse

• cleanse the palate

Rhymes for cleanse

• bens
• dens
• gens
• glens
• hens
• jens
• pens
• tens
• wrens
• zens
• cheyennes
• parens

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