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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to clean
to remove the dirt from
cleanse the wound with soap and water before applying the bandage
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cleanse
Temazcal ceremonies take place in large, round sweat lodge-style structures of the same name, and use elements like heat and steam to detoxify and cleanse the body and spirit.
—
Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Among them was that chanting and dancing could cleanse the body of sin.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Your skin is cleansed with a topical antiseptic, like alcohol or povidone-iodine, to help prevent infections.
—Carley Millhone, Health, 9 Sep. 2025
Eager to convince the family of her and March’s love, Nat sets off to become a useful ghost and offers to cleanse the factory.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Among them was that chanting and dancing could cleanse the body of sin.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Your skin is cleansed with a topical antiseptic, like alcohol or povidone-iodine, to help prevent infections.
—Carley Millhone, Health, 9 Sep. 2025
Eager to convince the family of her and March’s love, Nat sets off to become a useful ghost and offers to cleanse the factory.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanse
Verb
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If posts contain pictures, uploaders are told to purge metadata from those file attachments.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Oct. 2025
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What’s clear is that the power of that institution is now in the hands of hacks who clock in every single morning determined solely to purge this country of any citizen who ever dared to challenge or dislike this president.—
Billy Ray,
Deadline,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ice machine needs to be cleaned Plumbing not maintained in good repair.—
Gege Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
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Rachel's wedding dress is currently being cleaned, and then will be stored in hopes of future use.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cleanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanse. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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