1
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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2
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
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Recent Examples of purgatory
The Colts are stuck in QB purgatory unless Anthony Richardson engineers a massive turnaround.
—
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025
Apple ‘s stuck in Judge Mehta purgatory, too.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2025
This has led to numerous fan theories attempting to make sense of the franchise’s nebulous logic, including the idea that tournament organizer Calypso is a devil figure and the whole thing is some form of purgatory, or that there are multiple timelines.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Other menu items include vegan Kimchi, a fried tofu sandwich on Zingerman’s bread, and eggs in Gochujang purgatory.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purgatory
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025
Apple ‘s stuck in Judge Mehta purgatory, too.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2025
This has led to numerous fan theories attempting to make sense of the franchise’s nebulous logic, including the idea that tournament organizer Calypso is a devil figure and the whole thing is some form of purgatory, or that there are multiple timelines.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Other menu items include vegan Kimchi, a fried tofu sandwich on Zingerman’s bread, and eggs in Gochujang purgatory.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purgatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purgatory
Noun
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The rain, along with a phalanx of firefighters, wasn’t enough to stop the inferno that resulted.—
Tony Sachs,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
To the north, firefighters have had more luck against the Zogg Fire, a similarly fast-moving inferno that has killed four people.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The stage was set for another installment of Scott’s recurring nightmare.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Pixels continue to receive OS upgrades months before Samsungs, a continuing nightmare for the brand.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Nicole finds herself in an all too familiar place for those who have experienced the early phase of young-onset neurological disease, a netherworld between acceptance and denial.—
Gus Alexiou,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
-
The other two-thirds are on a scale of anxiously hopeful to beyond desperate -- an amorphous netherworld of doubt that, yes, includes the Miami Dolphins with Tua Tagovailoa, or should.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Hank, having already experienced life-changing failure, is also able to absorb beatings that would destroy most people, endure the agony, and leap back into action.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
28 Aug. 2025
-
The buddy story ended in agony when it was revealed that Edwards was on the list and complicit in the ambush plot.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
During one storyline, Angela travels to the Norse underworld known as Hel to resurrect Sera after her death.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
9 Sep. 2025
-
He is soon pulled into an underworld of drugs, violence, escalating dangers and missing bodies.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Some monks who were once forced off the island put a curse on it and everyone who ever took anything away from it.—
Sara Stridsberg
September 15,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
-
When her curse begins to affect her physically, Amada travels to the Abyss to seek a cure from the Grand Warlock.—
Mia Sosa,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Also, sometimes the lure of carry is the shortest way to hell.—
Vineer Bhansali,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Eventually, the warden showed up and welcomed them to el infierno—hell.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
According to Roach, the entire ordeal took about 10 hours.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
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In 1986, the family’s ordeal captivated the region’s attention and drew dozens of national reporters to the area.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purgatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purgatory. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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