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
According to local belief, sending a lantern upward helps cleanse a person’s spirit and eases their misfortunes, clearing the path for good luck in the coming year.
—
Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 20 Oct. 2025
Practice standing and walking meditation, the Microcosmic Orbit, Taiji Ruler, the Eight Treasures, cleansing the internal organs, embodying the elements and more.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Eventually, micellar water was used in France by makeup artists backstage at fashion shows to quickly cleanse model’s faces.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2025
The formula deeply cleanses and removes buildup to leave you with silky, shiny hair.
—Kyra Surgent, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 20 Oct. 2025
Practice standing and walking meditation, the Microcosmic Orbit, Taiji Ruler, the Eight Treasures, cleansing the internal organs, embodying the elements and more.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Eventually, micellar water was used in France by makeup artists backstage at fashion shows to quickly cleanse model’s faces.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2025
The formula deeply cleanses and removes buildup to leave you with silky, shiny hair.
—Kyra Surgent, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanse
Verb
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After the sun set and the mob had been purged, Pelosi returned to a Capitol in shambles to help complete the day’s task.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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Miami should have purged the roster even more, shipping off starters for draft picks, but apparently none of the bids enticed Ross and his minions, who are the individuals really calling the shots now.—
Omar Kelly
November 4,
Miami Herald,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Her goal in including hygiene items and cleaning supplies in the pantry is to ensure families don’t need to choose between nutrition and other forms of self-care, Ortega said.—
Alyssa N. Salcedo,
jsonline.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Depending on how often your household uses your microwave, the inside should be cleaned at least once a week with dish soap and hot water on a microfiber cloth.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cleanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanse. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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