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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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
Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
This CeraVe Hydrating Oil Cleanser not only gently dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and unwanted oils, but also helps maintain moisture while cleansing, leaving skin soft, comfortable, and never stripped.
—Kieaundria Bellamy, InStyle, 29 May 2026
The new building will include a global center for skin care and cleansing, a polycultural skin and hair care center of excellence, a human performance lab, a Unilever fragrance house and a packaging innovation studio.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
Over the years, the Korean beauty giant has built an impressive portfolio of brands that have shaped routines long before double-cleansing and glass skin entered the mainstream.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 May 2026
After cleansing and disinfecting, wet your sponge, then spread a layer of seeds across the top and leave it under a clear bowl or cover.
—Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 27 May 2026
Each product is designed to emulate a step in a bathhouse cleansing experience, and the brand focuses on education in their marketing materials to teach American consumers about the traditional process.
—Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
The shoes are designed for both poolside lounging and fancier occasions in mind, since they can be easily wiped dry and buffed with a leather cleansing cream for a polished look.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026
Koungoulos and Doyle excavated the bones only after Quayle had performed a smoking ceremony over the grave, which involves passing smoke over the grave and the bones as a form of spiritual cleansing.
—ArsTechnica, 18 May 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
Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Enjoy a few minutes of peace in the shower while cleansing and moisturizing your skin.
—Laura Lu, Parents, 22 May 2026
Consider a dip in the spa’s private plunge pool or a cleansing salt ritual, tucked away in a hushed courtyard.
—Skyli Alvarez, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 May 2026
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
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
The formula pairs a deeper-cleansing base with glycerin, honey, and nourishing oils like coconut, avocado, and argan to lift buildup without that stripped, dry feeling that can trigger frizz.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Apr. 2026
While cleansing conditioners will gently clean your curls, don’t expect the product to lather much.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
At the end of the film, Man does meet his fate, a cleansing fire, which takes Racine, too.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
This CeraVe Hydrating Oil Cleanser not only gently dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and unwanted oils, but also helps maintain moisture while cleansing, leaving skin soft, comfortable, and never stripped.
—Kieaundria Bellamy, InStyle, 29 May 2026
The new building will include a global center for skin care and cleansing, a polycultural skin and hair care center of excellence, a human performance lab, a Unilever fragrance house and a packaging innovation studio.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
Over the years, the Korean beauty giant has built an impressive portfolio of brands that have shaped routines long before double-cleansing and glass skin entered the mainstream.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 May 2026
After cleansing and disinfecting, wet your sponge, then spread a layer of seeds across the top and leave it under a clear bowl or cover.
—Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 27 May 2026
Each product is designed to emulate a step in a bathhouse cleansing experience, and the brand focuses on education in their marketing materials to teach American consumers about the traditional process.
—Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
The shoes are designed for both poolside lounging and fancier occasions in mind, since they can be easily wiped dry and buffed with a leather cleansing cream for a polished look.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026
Koungoulos and Doyle excavated the bones only after Quayle had performed a smoking ceremony over the grave, which involves passing smoke over the grave and the bones as a form of spiritual cleansing.
—ArsTechnica, 18 May 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
Next is purifying and hydrating with the Body Wash, which moisturizes and plumps skin while deeply cleansing pores, strengthening the skin barrier and triggering cellular regeneration.
—Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Enjoy a few minutes of peace in the shower while cleansing and moisturizing your skin.
—Laura Lu, Parents, 22 May 2026
Consider a dip in the spa’s private plunge pool or a cleansing salt ritual, tucked away in a hushed courtyard.
—Skyli Alvarez, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 May 2026
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
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
The formula pairs a deeper-cleansing base with glycerin, honey, and nourishing oils like coconut, avocado, and argan to lift buildup without that stripped, dry feeling that can trigger frizz.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Apr. 2026
While cleansing conditioners will gently clean your curls, don’t expect the product to lather much.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleansing
Noun
-
Still and sparkling water comes from an in-house purification plant.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
By contrast, the silicon purification is a walk in the park.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The data shows that black and brown people spend much longer time, in longer lines, purging people, people literally showing up and not knowing that their names have been purged from the rolls.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
-
The administration has provided no explanation for purging the board, which helps steer the National Science Foundation and acts as an independent advisory body for the president and Congress on scientific and engineering issues, providing reports throughout the year.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To maximize efficiency, pair windowsill cleaning with dusting the blinds or vacuuming fabric window treatments as part of your overall window cleaning and maintenance routine.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 May 2026
-
Approximately $310 million will support cleaning efforts of buses, trains, facilities, stations and stops.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Anderson said the sound of water can be very cathartic to people.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
-
Where airing out relationship drama publicly goes wrong Yes, sharing intimate relationship details can be cathartic.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
24 May 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
-
Citations were given for 39 hazardous moving violations and 65 non-moving violations.—
Kendrick Calfee
May 24,
Kansas City Star,
24 May 2026
-
The report urges Sacramento to follow San Francisco and Berkeley in restricting non-moving violation enforcement.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Eventually, your eyes come to rest on the hotel’s facade—an impressive grid of local stone and wooden louvers that is Urquiola’s ode to the oeuvre of Rationalist architect Giuseppe Terragni.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The dam, a five-year construction job that was completed in 1936 during the depths of the Great Depression, is often hailed as one of the nation’s most impressive works of infrastructure.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
The 22-year-old Wembanyama was emotional, bursting into tears as the final horn blew and again choking back emotions after being named the Most Valuable Player of the WCF.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
31 May 2026
-
Healthline notes that sensory overload can affect concentration, emotional regulation, and comfort in public spaces.—
Jennifer Jay Palumbo,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleansing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleansing. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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