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
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
Nighttime routines used to consist of cleansing your face, putting on a basic retinol, and finishing with a generous slathering of Pond's Cream.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
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
Nighttime routines used to consist of cleansing your face, putting on a basic retinol, and finishing with a generous slathering of Pond's Cream.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanse
Verb
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Of the 44 officers selected to join the Communist Party’s top-leadership council, 40 have been purged or gone missing since mid-2023, Neil Thomas, a fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis, told me.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2026
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Trump has since purged both commissions of critics and appointed loyalists to take their places.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Coming off an excruciating 119-loss season, the Rockies cleaned house in the front office and promised a new, exciting era of baseball.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
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Kelse Redd, owner of professional cleaning company So Fresh So Clean, recommends starting with the blinds, fully dusting and wiping them down.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanse. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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