1
as in to purge
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially
in an elaborate ritual the priestess cleansed the gathering of supplicants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to clean
to remove the dirt from
cleanse the wound with soap and water before applying the bandage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of cleanse
High acidity, fine bubbles, citrus notes, minerality, and freshness help cleanse the palate while enhancing the natural flavors of raw fish.
—
Katie Kelly Bell,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2026
The Kérastase Chronologiste Revitalizing Youth Shampoo removes buildup, cleanses the scalp, softens and strengthens strands (meaning less breakage), increases moisture starting at the root, improves follicle health (meaning less shedding), and imparts shine.
—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
15 June 2026
An amuse bouche opened the meal, a palate-cleansing sorbet marked the end of the dinner and the beginning of dessert, and a little treat, and the end felt like a festive way to linger a little longer and celebrate a special meal.
—
Christine Sarkis,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
Videos showing New Yorkers burning incense and sage outside Madison Square Garden have racked up thousands of views online, with supporters hoping to cleanse any bad energy before tipoff.
—
ABC News,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Katie Kelly Bell,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2026
The Kérastase Chronologiste Revitalizing Youth Shampoo removes buildup, cleanses the scalp, softens and strengthens strands (meaning less breakage), increases moisture starting at the root, improves follicle health (meaning less shedding), and imparts shine.
—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
15 June 2026
An amuse bouche opened the meal, a palate-cleansing sorbet marked the end of the dinner and the beginning of dessert, and a little treat, and the end felt like a festive way to linger a little longer and celebrate a special meal.
—
Christine Sarkis,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
Videos showing New Yorkers burning incense and sage outside Madison Square Garden have racked up thousands of views online, with supporters hoping to cleanse any bad energy before tipoff.
—
ABC News,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanse
Verb
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The move comes as the UK considers following Australia's lead in enacting social media bans for under-16s, a policy that previously forced Snapchat to purge 415,000 underage accounts in Australia.
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At various points during his interview with Sobchak, Dugin called the sport of surfing evil and said that its practitioners should be purged.
Verb
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Ashton's journey from moving bins to cleaning them demonstrates that a complete roadmap isn't necessary; curiosity and taking the next step are crucial.
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Tahoe officials have been vigilant, ensuring all boats are cleaned, drained and dry before launching into Lake Tahoe.
Cite this Entry
“Cleanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanse. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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