as in restoring
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 purging
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
The administration has provided no explanation for purging the board, which helps steer the National Science Foundation and acts as an independent advisory body for the president and Congress on scientific and engineering issues, providing reports throughout the year.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
One or more of the agencies compiling these lists — the Illinois State Board of Elections, the Secretary of State, and the Illinois Department of Employment Security, evidently is not purging dead people from its lists, Mertes said.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
While purging senior military leaders, Xi has grown and modernized China’s army, navy, and air force; improved its cyberwarfare; and upgraded its nuclear arsenal.
—Michael Sheridan, Vanity Fair, 8 Apr. 2026
Despite the conflict with Iran and other recent military activity overseas, the Pentagon seems focused on purging minorities and women.
—Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026
In late March, Sony removed 700 titles from the PlayStation Store, purging all listings from publisher Nostra Games.
—James Peckham, PC Magazine, 7 Apr. 2026
What started with restrictive eating habits led to binge eating, which led to purging.
—Eden Laase, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026
And even those veterans could be traded in this rebuilding climate, where the Dolphins are seemingly purging bloated salaries, and traded away players who have value — such as receiver Jaylen Waddle and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick - for draft picks.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
CBS News, 4 May 2026
The administration has provided no explanation for purging the board, which helps steer the National Science Foundation and acts as an independent advisory body for the president and Congress on scientific and engineering issues, providing reports throughout the year.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
One or more of the agencies compiling these lists — the Illinois State Board of Elections, the Secretary of State, and the Illinois Department of Employment Security, evidently is not purging dead people from its lists, Mertes said.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
While purging senior military leaders, Xi has grown and modernized China’s army, navy, and air force; improved its cyberwarfare; and upgraded its nuclear arsenal.
—Michael Sheridan, Vanity Fair, 8 Apr. 2026
Despite the conflict with Iran and other recent military activity overseas, the Pentagon seems focused on purging minorities and women.
—Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026
In late March, Sony removed 700 titles from the PlayStation Store, purging all listings from publisher Nostra Games.
—James Peckham, PC Magazine, 7 Apr. 2026
What started with restrictive eating habits led to binge eating, which led to purging.
—Eden Laase, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2026
And even those veterans could be traded in this rebuilding climate, where the Dolphins are seemingly purging bloated salaries, and traded away players who have value — such as receiver Jaylen Waddle and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick - for draft picks.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purging
Verb
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But Zilis testified her views on OpenAI changed after Musk’s criticism of the investment, along with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s involvement in restoring Altman as CEO after he was briefly ousted in 2023.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
-
Even though Kapelovitz claimed that Walgren is biased in favor of the prosecution, his absolute zeal for restoring criminals, no matter how awful their crimes, indicates that he himself may be biased in favor of defendants, which again calls into question his ability to rule impartially.—
Rafael Perez,
Daily News,
7 May 2026
Verb
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While the norm is that a toner should be an astringent that removes grime and dirt while balancing the pH, Korean toners work to give the skin instant hydration as the first step after cleansing with a face wash.—
Rosa Jisoo Pyo,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
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The brand’s hero product, its Plum Beauty Oil, is also the brand’s hero ingredient across top sellers, including its Plumscreen sun screen and the brand’s cleansing oil.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Yet neither approach had any factual basis, and any success either group had was likely due to the placebo effect—merely giving a patient special attention and the hope of a cure can be healing in itself.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
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Jeremy Renner is getting real about his healing journey following his tragic snow plow accident in 2023.—
Janelle Ash , Larry Fink,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Flameless induction cooking ranges, waste management and composting, oil purifying machines—all part of a large attempt to make luxury a little less wasteful.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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While some cleansers strip skin of moisture while purifying pores and removing dirt and oil, this one does the opposite, according to shoppers.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purging. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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