PURGATORY Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

purgatory

noun

Definition of purgatory

as in inferno

a temporary place or state in which the souls of people who die make amends for their sins It was a summer job that felt like purgatory to the teen.

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as in nightmare

a place or state of temporary suffering We found ourselves trapped in the purgatory of a rush-hour traffic jam.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of purgatory If Jones, who’s on track to start in Week 1, can’t stay healthy again or his hot start from last year proves to be a fluke, then the Colts’ cycle of quarterback purgatory continues. — The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 20 July 2026 The Tampa Bay Lightning’s quest to escape their recent first-round playoff purgatory starts with a new 84-game regular-season slate. — Nicolas Villamil, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 July 2026 Cthulhu, who tricks the Minions into releasing his friends from purgatory. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 June 2026 It was created by Congress, in 1990, to protect undocumented kids who ended up in the child-welfare system from being deported or getting stuck in a parentless purgatory. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for purgatory

Recent Examples of Synonyms for purgatory

Noun

Hiding underneath a desk in a classroom was an 8-foot python, which fire officials say started the inferno.

— Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2026
The inferno that follows, as the betrayer’s dragon sets fire to both armies and then Tumbleton itself, will be rendered with both practical flames and CGI.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of inferno

Noun

But her kindly and supportive cop boyfriend Nick (Brandon Perea) rightly insists that the duo should perhaps move out of the house when Gemma’s habitual nightmares intensify.

— Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
As the title suggests, the film indeed opens with a dream, one that emerges from the nightmares of history.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of nightmare

Noun

Alistair Taylor’s reward for accompanying him into this teenage netherworld was to be given lunch at his current favorite city-center restaurant, the Peacock.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2026
The rules of this netherworld announce themselves, early on, via a nondescript wall sign.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026

Definition of netherworld

Noun

Such is the ecstasy, the agony, of judgment, which was never for their benefit.

— Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2026
The man with almost no injury was writhing in agony, while the man with a four-inch nail lodged near his brain kept working for six days, not even realizing the nail was there.

— Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of agony

Noun

Meanwhile Eddie’s rise through the criminal underworld is mirrored by his rise through the British establishment, bringing him into the circle of a new oleaginous aristo played by Hugh Bonneville, who is joining the cast.

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
Because these operations draw from the criminal underworld, the Iranian regime can deny any involvement.

— Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of underworld

Noun

She and Kidman reprise their roles as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, witches in Massachusetts who must once more confront a family curse that causes the deaths of men whom women in their family fall in love with.

— Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026
Along with the town’s hard-drinking fisherman Wyck (Root), and the town hall staff of Patricia (O’Flynn), Rosemary (Dickey) and Dale (Hiller), Loftis tries to ignore a centuries-old island curse while attracting tourists to the island.

— Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of curse

Noun

National Treasure 3 has been long discussed but remained in development hell for almost two full decades.

— Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026
For six years and five seasons, Netflix’s treasure-hunting drama Outer Banks has put its North Carolina teens through absolute hell just to keep viewers hooked.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of hell

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purgatories

purgatory

purge

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Style

“Purgatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purgatory. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of purgatory

noun

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