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
Grace McCarty, Glamour, 28 Jan. 2026
The word February denotes purification, encouraging a cleansing of the past.
—Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Sulwhasoo model using gentle cleansing foam It’s further reinforced by decades of investment in advanced formulation science and manufacturing in Korea and Japan, resulting in products that are both innovative and reliable.
—Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The notion of grief gradually fades into the backdrop, finally re-emerging in a manner that is, thanks to the film’s lumpy tonal mixture, more confusing than emotionally cleansing.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
If your skin feels rough, flaky, or tight after cleansing, then ectoin is for you.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 22 Jan. 2026
The Dolphins are going through a cleansing of sorts highlighted by their activities of the past three months.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
Mario doubled back for the Alabama cleansing, Nick Saban’s football version of a papal blessing and three years on staff making Mario hirable again.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Jan. 2026
My favorite applications are left on for twenty minutes as a mask, and emulsified as the first step in my double cleansing routine.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 15 Jan. 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
Taryn Brooke, Glamour, 22 Jan. 2026
The aura-cleansing ritual is designed to realign your chakras and release any energy that may be weighing you down.
—Mary Honkus, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Jan. 2026
This three-in-one purifier, humidifier, and cooling fan takes a well-rounded approach to improving your air quality by hydrating and deeply cleansing the air.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
How to care for your crystals Yes, our crystals need cleansing too.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025
Save your palate-cleansing sips of Champagne or Chablis for raw oysters.
—Anna Lee C. Iijima, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Nov. 2025
Practice standing and walking meditation, the Microcosmic Orbit, Taiji Ruler, the Eight Treasures, cleansing the internal organs, embodying the elements and more.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Simply apply it in the morning after cleansing and follow up with the moisturizer and SPF of your choice, though the brand makes a set for those who want the whole routine.
—Caitlyn Martyn
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
LaVon suggests gently cleansing the scalp with a refresher spray after sweating, followed by a few drops of lightweight oil like grapeseed.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
That means it should be used after cleansing, but before applying serums or moisturizer.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 28 Jan. 2026
The word February denotes purification, encouraging a cleansing of the past.
—Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Sulwhasoo model using gentle cleansing foam It’s further reinforced by decades of investment in advanced formulation science and manufacturing in Korea and Japan, resulting in products that are both innovative and reliable.
—Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The notion of grief gradually fades into the backdrop, finally re-emerging in a manner that is, thanks to the film’s lumpy tonal mixture, more confusing than emotionally cleansing.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
If your skin feels rough, flaky, or tight after cleansing, then ectoin is for you.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 22 Jan. 2026
The Dolphins are going through a cleansing of sorts highlighted by their activities of the past three months.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026
Mario doubled back for the Alabama cleansing, Nick Saban’s football version of a papal blessing and three years on staff making Mario hirable again.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Jan. 2026
My favorite applications are left on for twenty minutes as a mask, and emulsified as the first step in my double cleansing routine.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 15 Jan. 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
Verb
Glamour reviewer Elismary Valle says that this cleanser is fast and tough, and brushes and makeup sponges are left as good as new after cleansing with it.
—Taryn Brooke, Glamour, 22 Jan. 2026
The aura-cleansing ritual is designed to realign your chakras and release any energy that may be weighing you down.
—Mary Honkus, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Jan. 2026
This three-in-one purifier, humidifier, and cooling fan takes a well-rounded approach to improving your air quality by hydrating and deeply cleansing the air.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
How to care for your crystals Yes, our crystals need cleansing too.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025
Save your palate-cleansing sips of Champagne or Chablis for raw oysters.
—Anna Lee C. Iijima, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Nov. 2025
Practice standing and walking meditation, the Microcosmic Orbit, Taiji Ruler, the Eight Treasures, cleansing the internal organs, embodying the elements and more.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Simply apply it in the morning after cleansing and follow up with the moisturizer and SPF of your choice, though the brand makes a set for those who want the whole routine.
—Caitlyn Martyn
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
LaVon suggests gently cleansing the scalp with a refresher spray after sweating, followed by a few drops of lightweight oil like grapeseed.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleansing
Noun
-
Purification High-quality krill oil supplements will undergo a purification process to remove heavy metals and toxins that may have entered the krill from the ocean waters.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Unity-2 will run through the entire D-T fuel process, including discharge, purification, and resupply, to establish that tritium recycling is a sufficient method to produce fusion energy.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
And so every autocrat ends up purging any kind of critic.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Back in Texas, five days of purging await.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Each unit’s weekly cleaning regimen includes completely emptying the waste with the vacuum truck’s suction wand, adding deodorizer that breaks down future waste and mitigates bad smells, scrubbing and disinfecting every surface inside the unit, and restocking paper goods.—
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Mickey Todiwala,
CNBC,
24 Jan. 2026
-
But not before Freddy applies an earlier safety lesson about harmful chemical cleaning products to subdue the suddenly menacing unicorn.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
For a lot of artists, musicians specifically, music can be cathartic for them.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
30 Jan. 2026
-
What sounds like a tremendously tough sit is, in fact, one of the most rewarding, cathartic, and unexpectedly romantic pieces of cinema to come along in decades.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 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
-
Among the more moving cases that Blair describes are those of people who in life were vulnerable and powerless but in death were considered formidable threats.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The offense is considered a non-moving violation with no license points, though vehicles can be towed in some cases.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Bieniemy could inject some new ideas after an impressive stint as running backs coach under Ben Johnson for the Chicago Bears who ranked third in the NFL in rushing yards while winning their division during Bieniemy’s only year there.—
Jeff Fedotin,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Snow, sleet and ice totals have been impressive, ranging from 1 to 5 inches.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Ethan has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, a condition that can make emotional regulation especially challenging.—
Mayo Clinic News Network,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
-
At her father's sentencing in July 2025, Rhianna Stephens made an emotional appeal for leniency.—
Sarah Prior,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleansing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleansing. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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