as in purification
the act or fact of freeing from sin or moral guilt
underwent a cleansing before he could enter the temple's most sacred chamber
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in purifying
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1
as in purging
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially
in an elaborate ritual the priestess cleansed the gathering of supplicants
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cleaning
to remove the dirt from
cleanse the wound with soap and water before applying the bandage
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cleansing
Sarah Y. Wu, Glamour, 22 Apr. 2026
Spray dry toilet paper with cleansing, soothing and refreshing Pristine to create an instant wet wipe that is actually flushable and safe for your sewer and septic systems.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Home fragrances, cleansing gels, moisturizing lotions and candles by L’Artisan Parfumeur are scattered across the rooms.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
Throughout my stay, gentle touches at the spa (cleansing ceremonies and local teas) and the option to add on one of four signature Alila Moments highlighted traditional Yucatan healers and Mayan cosmology.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
Harry then took part in a traditional smoking ceremony, which is an ancient practice using the smoke of native plants for cleansing, healing and protection.
—Kylie Walters, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Spritz on after cleansing or before moisturizing.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 13 Apr. 2026
Facial Cleansing Brushes A gentle facial cleansing brush can remove makeup and impurities more effectively than hands alone.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Facial Cleansing Brushes Gentle cleansing brushes are more effective than hands alone at deep cleansing and removing makeup.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 26 Dec. 2025
Mario Badescu’s no-frills formula refines pores and soothes skin post-cleansing with witch hazel and rose water.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 18 Nov. 2025
Exploring divine Love’s infinite nature is so cleansing.
—Mark Swinney, Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2025
Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 1 Apr. 2026
This nourishing cleansing oil provides deep hydration for youthful, healthy-looking skin.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The tasting begins with a palate-cleansing slurp of Soda Folk.
—Dominic Green, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
The same goes for cleansing with Epsom salt and milk baths.
—Sarah Boden, NPR, 16 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
The rain continues, cleansing the city of its grime.
—Rodrigo Hasbún, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
Manon Coubia‘s gorgeous, whispering first feature is therefore not a film of major dramatic incidents and revelations, though its payoff is clear and cleansing as a mountain spring.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Feb. 2026
This drugstore pick is especially designed for anyone experiencing mild or normal shedding due to breakage and helps restore strength by using gentle surfactants while cleansing.
—Jamie Wilson, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
Extend that same philosophy to all your skin prep products, including cleanser, cleansing oil, eye cream, ampoule, sunscreen, and serum.
—Sarah Y. Wu, Glamour, 22 Apr. 2026
Spray dry toilet paper with cleansing, soothing and refreshing Pristine to create an instant wet wipe that is actually flushable and safe for your sewer and septic systems.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Home fragrances, cleansing gels, moisturizing lotions and candles by L’Artisan Parfumeur are scattered across the rooms.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026
Throughout my stay, gentle touches at the spa (cleansing ceremonies and local teas) and the option to add on one of four signature Alila Moments highlighted traditional Yucatan healers and Mayan cosmology.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
Harry then took part in a traditional smoking ceremony, which is an ancient practice using the smoke of native plants for cleansing, healing and protection.
—Kylie Walters, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Spritz on after cleansing or before moisturizing.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 13 Apr. 2026
Facial Cleansing Brushes A gentle facial cleansing brush can remove makeup and impurities more effectively than hands alone.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Facial Cleansing Brushes Gentle cleansing brushes are more effective than hands alone at deep cleansing and removing makeup.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
To use the bestseller, distribute three pumps over the face and neck daily, post-cleansing, and start savoring its impressive effects after a couple of months of consistent application.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 26 Dec. 2025
Mario Badescu’s no-frills formula refines pores and soothes skin post-cleansing with witch hazel and rose water.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 18 Nov. 2025
Exploring divine Love’s infinite nature is so cleansing.
—Mark Swinney, Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2025
Verb
Use it after cleansing and prepare to be wowed by how smooth your skin feels.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 1 Apr. 2026
This nourishing cleansing oil provides deep hydration for youthful, healthy-looking skin.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The tasting begins with a palate-cleansing slurp of Soda Folk.
—Dominic Green, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
The same goes for cleansing with Epsom salt and milk baths.
—Sarah Boden, NPR, 16 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
The rain continues, cleansing the city of its grime.
—Rodrigo Hasbún, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
Manon Coubia‘s gorgeous, whispering first feature is therefore not a film of major dramatic incidents and revelations, though its payoff is clear and cleansing as a mountain spring.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Feb. 2026
This drugstore pick is especially designed for anyone experiencing mild or normal shedding due to breakage and helps restore strength by using gentle surfactants while cleansing.
—Jamie Wilson, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleansing
Noun
-
At the very least, clean it once a week to prevent mineral buildup and bacterial and mold growth, says Tim David, CEO at Airlucent, a company specializing in air purification.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
16 Apr. 2026
-
This is an album of spine-tingling purification.—
David Harris,
SPIN,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Despite the conflict with Iran and other recent military activity overseas, the Pentagon seems focused on purging minorities and women.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sara Aparacio, a resident cleaning expert at Homeaglow, equates scrubbing an appliance with an abrasive sponge to rubbing it with very fine sandpaper.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
-
In fact, the common liquor, distilled from grains or potatoes, can be a natural alternative to many synthetic cleaning products and an inexpensive, shelf-stable swap in a pinch.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Martha Stewart,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s why the Pistons’ 30-3 run to start the third quarter must have been so cathartic for Pistons fans.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The result is an album of cathartic sounds where Icona Pop brazenly shed the past.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Many stepwells were used for ablution; the tanks associated with mosques, Hindu temples and other shrines offered the most purificatory form. Summoning water from the depths was also a symbol of temporal power.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
13 July 2019
Adjective
-
Violators could be ticketed similar to a non-moving violation for a driver.—
Jim Turner,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Each wrong turn is bittersweet, making the eventual reunion even more moving and meaningful.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Don’t turn it into something that needs to be impressive or productive.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The Storm defense was impressive, allowing Birmingham to convert only 1 of 13 third-down plays in the whitewash.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Is there an emotional component for you at this moment?—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
From the opening scene of the family’s move to town, the soft and wistful light shapes the film’s emotional world.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleansing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleansing. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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