as in to restore
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially
a day on which the faithful are expected to purge themselves of their sins through prayer and fasting
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Recent Examples of purge
If this obscene gerrymander survives, the next one will purge what little remains of Democratic representation in the Legislature, where the GOP holds massive supermajorities far beyond its share of the electorate.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
This is also thanks to the fact that crawfish are often purged before cooking.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 May 2026
When accounting for positions that have been purged more than once, 52% of the PLA’s top leadership positions have been affected, the report found.
—Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
The data shows that black and brown people spend much longer time, in longer lines, purging people, people literally showing up and not knowing that their names have been purged from the rolls.
—CBS News, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for purge
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
This is also thanks to the fact that crawfish are often purged before cooking.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 May 2026
When accounting for positions that have been purged more than once, 52% of the PLA’s top leadership positions have been affected, the report found.
—Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
The data shows that black and brown people spend much longer time, in longer lines, purging people, people literally showing up and not knowing that their names have been purged from the rolls.
—CBS News, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for purge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purge
Verb
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This was the era of decolonization, when nation-states delivered one-third of humanity from the humiliation of imperial rule, restoring political autonomy and dignity where they had long been removed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
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Real change begins when communities insist on solutions that restore dignity, stability, and hope rather than pushing people out of sight.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Speaking of ventilation, don’t forget to breathe deep; a new electric air filter cleanses our world’s increasingly polluted atmosphere, an issue contributed to by the S-Class itself.—
Brett Berk,
Robb Report,
15 May 2026
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Other ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and glycerin simultaneously soothe and hydrate the skin while cleansing.—
Claire West,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The chefs worked together for several hours, first to sterilize the onggi over heated charcoal topped with a small amount of honey, which fumigate and purify the vessels.—
Andrea Strong,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 May 2026
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Moringa trees have been used to purify water for millennia, with evidence of their use by ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, said Adriano Gonçalves dos Reis, a study author and a professor at the Institute of Science and Technology of São Paulo State University.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The crisis tests Pope Leo XIV’s pledge to heal divisions with traditionalists, coming after Pope Francis’ 2021 crackdown on the Latin Mass sparked deep anger among church conservatives.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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Hassid recommends rest and treatment in order for the knee to heal correctly.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
May 13,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purge. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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