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
The same goes for cleansing with Epsom salt and milk baths.
—
Sarah Boden, NPR, 16 Mar. 2026
My skin was quenched and cleansed at once, and Vargas’ fluency in her craft made the time absolutely fly by.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 15 Mar. 2026
The goal in the West Bank is to create a homogenous ethnicity in a space that is being cleansed of Palestinians, and to expand the Israeli footprint there.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
In a small, domed stone or clay structure, heated volcanic rocks, medicinal herbs, and water create steam, which is believed to cleanse toxins, improve circulation, and provide a spiritual connection to nature.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Sarah Boden, NPR, 16 Mar. 2026
My skin was quenched and cleansed at once, and Vargas’ fluency in her craft made the time absolutely fly by.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 15 Mar. 2026
The goal in the West Bank is to create a homogenous ethnicity in a space that is being cleansed of Palestinians, and to expand the Israeli footprint there.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
In a small, domed stone or clay structure, heated volcanic rocks, medicinal herbs, and water create steam, which is believed to cleanse toxins, improve circulation, and provide a spiritual connection to nature.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanse
Verb
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While purging senior military leaders, Xi has grown and modernized China’s army, navy, and air force; improved its cyberwarfare; and upgraded its nuclear arsenal.—
Michael Sheridan,
Vanity Fair,
8 Apr. 2026
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In late March, Sony removed 700 titles from the PlayStation Store, purging all listings from publisher Nostra Games.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Turns out, the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni is basically the floor-cleaning equivalent of a secret service agent.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
10 Apr. 2026
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Checking them off your spring-cleaning to-do list now will clear the way for more labor-intensive deep-cleaning tasks down the line.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanse. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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