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
Other ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and glycerin simultaneously soothe and hydrate the skin while cleansing.
—
Claire West, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
While the norm is that a toner should be an astringent that removes grime and dirt while balancing the pH, Korean toners work to give the skin instant hydration as the first step after cleansing with a face wash.
—Rosa Jisoo Pyo, Vogue, 8 May 2026
Aub says that in general, curly hair does best with gentle, hydrating formulas that can both cleanse the scalp without sacrificing the integrity of the curl pattern.
—Aimee Simeon, Glamour, 7 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Claire West, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
While the norm is that a toner should be an astringent that removes grime and dirt while balancing the pH, Korean toners work to give the skin instant hydration as the first step after cleansing with a face wash.
—Rosa Jisoo Pyo, Vogue, 8 May 2026
Aub says that in general, curly hair does best with gentle, hydrating formulas that can both cleanse the scalp without sacrificing the integrity of the curl pattern.
—Aimee Simeon, Glamour, 7 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanse
Verb
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Here was a symbolic way of purging Hindu society of untouchability.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
-
Burgum purged the department of roughly 13,000 staffers last year and announced efforts to reduce its workforce by even more in April.—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
One of its findings was that those countries that prioritized transitioning to clean energy alongside electrification and efficiency saved some $260 billion in fossil fuel import costs last year, with savings expected to grow substantially this year.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
29 May 2026
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Approximately $310 million will support cleaning efforts of buses, trains, facilities, stations and stops.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanse. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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