Synonyms of purgative

purgative

noun

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.

Related Words

• drug
• remedy
• medicine
• cathartic
• medication
• pill
• physic
• medicinal
• tablet
• medicament
• panacea
• tonic
• cure
• nostrum
• prescription
• pharmaceutical
• botanical
• prescription drug
• cure-all
• potion
• patent medicine
• specific
• tincture
• antiseptic
• syrup
• antibiotic
• cordial
• miracle drug
• wonder drug
• serum
• capsule
• cap

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of purgative

Sexism landed her in a fringe periodical, and her endorsement of the quackery of purgatives gave her a headline. — Jim Downs, STAT, 30 Oct. 2026

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

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

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