as in drug
a substance used to induce or speed up the process of defecation
In the past, purgatives were sometimes administered in cases of accidental poisoning.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of purgative
Sales of purgatives, tonics, syrups and patent medicines like Carter’s Little Liver Pills went through the roof as ordinary people were encouraged to closely monitor the frequency and quality of their bowel movements.
—
Elsa Richardson, TIME, 3 Oct. 2024
Or merely the tall-tale purgative of a frantic Purgatorian?
—Tom Nolan, WSJ, 11 June 2021
Blackshirts forced their opponents to drink castor oil and other purgatives, and then sent them home, wrenching with pain and covered in their own feces.
—Michael Ebner, Slate Magazine, 30 Jan. 2017
The persistent and sickening violence of Detroit could work as a powerful purgative, a corrective medicine for deprogramming those who doubt the reality of police brutality.
—Josephine Livingstone, New Republic, 8 Aug. 2017
Elsa Richardson, TIME, 3 Oct. 2024
Or merely the tall-tale purgative of a frantic Purgatorian?
—Tom Nolan, WSJ, 11 June 2021
Blackshirts forced their opponents to drink castor oil and other purgatives, and then sent them home, wrenching with pain and covered in their own feces.
—Michael Ebner, Slate Magazine, 30 Jan. 2017
The persistent and sickening violence of Detroit could work as a powerful purgative, a corrective medicine for deprogramming those who doubt the reality of police brutality.
—Josephine Livingstone, New Republic, 8 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purgative
Noun
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Authorities uncovered drugs, including pink cocaine, as well as evidence of prostitution and multiple firearms during the operation, according to the DEA.—
Danielle Wallace , Bonny Chu , Greg Wehner , Bill Melugin,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2025
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These are powerful drugs — antipsychotics, sedatives, sleep aids — each carrying their own risks.—
Dr. Sabooh Mubbashar,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In the first days of testimony in the remedy trial being heard at the D.C. federal court, Microsoft comes up frequently.—
Jaclyn Diaz,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2025
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The remedy that will follow the decision could break up the company, or at least separate its Chrome web browser business from the rest of the portfolio.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purgative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purgative. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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