as in excitable
bringing about a relief from strong emotions usually by expressing them
It was very cathartic to finally tell my childhood bully exactly what I thought of him.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in drug
a substance used to induce or speed up the process of defecation
Epsom salts, when ingested, act as a cathartic.
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cathartic
Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
For frustrated Democratic voters, Booker’s comments are probably cathartic.
—David M. Drucker, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2025
But after a chance to confront the director decades later, the experience became cathartic proof to Brugel of how far industry attitudes — and her own confidence — had evolved.
—Cynthia Reason, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025
Speaking about Srebrenica is difficult but cathartic.
—David Rohde, NBC news, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Adjective
Manager Dave Roberts confessed that the sweep was more than just a little bit cathartic for the Dodgers, coming out of their previous rough patch.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
For frustrated Democratic voters, Booker’s comments are probably cathartic.
—David M. Drucker, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2025
But after a chance to confront the director decades later, the experience became cathartic proof to Brugel of how far industry attitudes — and her own confidence — had evolved.
—Cynthia Reason, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025
Speaking about Srebrenica is difficult but cathartic.
—David Rohde, NBC news, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cathartic
Adjective
-
Neurons and glial cells are like dance partners in the brain, coordinating moves that shape how signals flow and how excitable neurons become.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Tony has fully bought into the dream, and Skarsgård plays him with excitable, boyish humor, almost as if the whole thing were a game.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Lucy and Pickard receive treatment through intravenous (IV) ketamine therapy ‒ a legal but off-label use of the drug.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
That behavior included drug use and related incidents, and disparaging comments about series co-creator Chuck Lorre.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This is the Oscar-winning director's first-ever acting Emmy nomination, and his daughter Francesca shared his emotional reaction to being nominated.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Their emotional personal stories helped fuel the popularity of lotteries.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Sales of purgatives, tonics, syrups and patent medicines like Carter’s Little Liver Pills went through the roof as ordinary people were encouraged to closely monitor the frequency and quality of their bowel movements.—
Elsa Richardson,
TIME,
3 Oct. 2024
-
Or merely the tall-tale purgative of a frantic Purgatorian?—
Tom Nolan,
WSJ,
11 June 2021
Adjective
-
After that, the first eight drives of the game all resulted in scores, delivering an exciting start to the season’s first game.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Mirza said the mobile bus has visited in the past, but that the permanent presence of dental care services is an exciting addition to UHI.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The medication used to treat some parasites has also been used to treat COVID-19.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Trump on Monday demanded that COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers prove that their shots have been effective, adding to his long string of comments alternately praising − and doubting the effectiveness of − the potentially life-saving medication.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Yet last week’s warning from Jet2, a business respected for its cost control and excellent customer service, has served as a reminder that, for all the impressive growth of recent years, this remains a volatile and sometimes unpredictable sector.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
-
This ambitious tour spans multiple continents, covering several countries and cities with an impressive run of dates.—
Jenzia Burgos,
StyleCaster,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Goldenberg’s path to medicine began at a young age.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The substances in the reports included common household products such as pain relievers, antihistamines, cold medicines and vitamins, the study said.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cathartic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cathartic. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share