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.
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as in drug
a substance used to induce or speed up the process of defecation
Epsom salts, when ingested, act as a cathartic.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cathartic
Brendan Hay, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
That’s why the Pistons’ 30-3 run to start the third quarter must have been so cathartic for Pistons fans.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The result is an album of cathartic sounds where Icona Pop brazenly shed the past.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
And the documentary, in a way, was cathartic.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Adjective
As such, the songs here are equally cathartic and stressful, frequently in the same song, occasionally in the same exact moment.
—Brendan Hay, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
That’s why the Pistons’ 30-3 run to start the third quarter must have been so cathartic for Pistons fans.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The result is an album of cathartic sounds where Icona Pop brazenly shed the past.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
And the documentary, in a way, was cathartic.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cathartic
Adjective
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An unexpected collaboration opportunity is very possible under today’s trine between excitable Mars and erratic Uranus.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
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At the Ricardo residence in the ’50s sitcom I Love Lucy, over-the-top housewife Lucy and Ricky, her excitable husband, were always getting into some sort of entertaining hijinks.—
Michael Gioia,
Architectural Digest,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But its primary association in the public consciousness since the nineteen-eighties is with the criminal underworld, particularly the drug cartels.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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The new shelter will allow residents to bring pets, which most shelters prohibit, offer a drug and alcohol treatment program and mental health services and assign those admitted a caseworker who will help connect them with professional development programs.—
Michael Cuglietta,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Language development, emotional regulation, problem-solving, and relationship-building all begin before age three.—
Tina Dello Russo,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
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The set was an emotional roller coaster with four deuces and eight service errors by the Highlanders.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
10 May 2026
Noun
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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
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Or merely the tall-tale purgative of a frantic Purgatorian?—
Tom Nolan,
WSJ,
11 June 2021
Adjective
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But that exciting crash sequence — from initial turbulence through to catastrophic Pacific Ocean landing — is where high-stakes action specialist Harlin is most firmly in his sweet spot.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
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Friends, networks and social circles can bring exciting connections now.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Belarusian human rights group Viasna said he repeatedly was denied essential medications and refused contact with his wife and children.—
Claudia Ciobanu,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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Instead, many factors, such as lack of sleep, stress, adverse life events, mental health and medications can lead to food noise.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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During her first two-plus seasons on the local stage in Lemont, Pontrelli has been a standout from her impressive offensive stats to her versatility on defense.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
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Kidman accessorized with an impressive 2024 diamonds, according to Vogue.—
Lindsay Kimble,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
Noun
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Confidence in every major institution — government, media, medicine, education — collapsed simultaneously.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
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As prices rise and jobs disappear, people across Iran say essentials like food and medicine are becoming out of reach.—
Charbel Mallo,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cathartic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cathartic. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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