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
As an additional step, Holm likes to quickly cleanse her eye area to get rid of any leftover mascara or liner before applying fresh makeup.
—
Kara Nesvig, Allure, 7 May 2026
The notes of apple, thyme and flavors of honey cleanse the palate between bites.
—Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
The brand’s hero product, its Plum Beauty Oil, is also the brand’s hero ingredient across top sellers, including its Plumscreen sun screen and the brand’s cleansing oil.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 6 May 2026
Allen cleansed himself in the process.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Kara Nesvig, Allure, 7 May 2026
The notes of apple, thyme and flavors of honey cleanse the palate between bites.
—Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
The brand’s hero product, its Plum Beauty Oil, is also the brand’s hero ingredient across top sellers, including its Plumscreen sun screen and the brand’s cleansing oil.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 6 May 2026
Allen cleansed himself in the process.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanse
Verb
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But there is a big difference between ordinary political competition and a coordinated national effort to purge state lawmakers for exercising independent judgment on a matter before their own legislature.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
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If this obscene gerrymander survives, the next one will purge what little remains of Democratic representation in the Legislature, where the GOP holds massive supermajorities far beyond its share of the electorate.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Why Pros Prefer White Linens In addition to looking luxurious, white linens are preferred by pro cleaners and launderers because they can be cleaned more rigorously.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
15 May 2026
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The project is seen as vital to clean water and a healthy environment for the South Florida region, as it is designed to store more water from Lake Okeechobee to be cleaned before it is sent south to the Everglades.—
Jim Turner,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanse. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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