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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cleanse
Simply apply it in the morning after cleansing and follow up with the moisturizer and SPF of your choice, though the brand makes a set for those who want the whole routine.
—
Caitlyn Martyn
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
The duo doesn’t skimp on the salon experience either—a clean, floral scent smells like a fresh blowout, while the formulas leave hair fresh, soft, and deeply cleansed.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 7 Oct. 2025
With straight-forward fits and washes, Burberry and Gucci cleansed the palette for bolder and brasher Spring/Summer 2026 designs by labels like Harri, Natasha Zinko and Yaku.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 2025
These ingredients help cleanse while supporting circulation and balance.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Caitlyn Martyn
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
The duo doesn’t skimp on the salon experience either—a clean, floral scent smells like a fresh blowout, while the formulas leave hair fresh, soft, and deeply cleansed.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 7 Oct. 2025
With straight-forward fits and washes, Burberry and Gucci cleansed the palette for bolder and brasher Spring/Summer 2026 designs by labels like Harri, Natasha Zinko and Yaku.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 2025
These ingredients help cleanse while supporting circulation and balance.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanse
Verb
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In an interview with Cycling Weekly last year, Slovenian Jan Tratnik said that his desperation to lose weight led him to develop bulimia – binge-eating large amounts of food and purging it to avoid weight gain.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
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Miao is one of the highest-ranking CMC officials to be purged since the 1960s and is particularly significant since he was personally elevated to the CMC by Xi.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Don’t reuse contact lens solution that’s been sitting in your case; clean the case with fresh solution at least once a week and leave it open to air dry; and never use tap water or saliva as a wetting agent.—
Holly Burns,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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Staff at the cemetery assigned each student a set of graves to clean in a section of the cemetery that needed grounds maintenance.—
Alyssa N. Salcedo,
jsonline.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cleanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanse. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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