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
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
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
Order 1 dissolved the ruling Baath Party and removed all senior party members from their government positions, purging the administrative class that ran its ministries, hospitals and schools.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
Heaters were deployed to keep the Orion capsule on top of the rocket warm, while rocket-purging systems were adapted to the cold.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Heaters are keeping the Orion capsule warm atop the rocket, officials said, and rocket-purging systems are also being adapted to the cold.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
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
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
Order 1 dissolved the ruling Baath Party and removed all senior party members from their government positions, purging the administrative class that ran its ministries, hospitals and schools.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
Heaters were deployed to keep the Orion capsule on top of the rocket warm, while rocket-purging systems were adapted to the cold.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Heaters are keeping the Orion capsule warm atop the rocket, officials said, and rocket-purging systems are also being adapted to the cold.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purging
Verb
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In practice, that means debris removal, emergency protective measures and critical infrastructure repairs — like restoring water systems — would continue.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
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Doctors would infuse a virus into her son's ears carrying a gene for a protein called otoferlin, which Travis was missing, hopefully restoring the ability of his brain to receive signals from his ears.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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You will be assigned a personal chef who cooks breakfast and dinners that are low in carbs but high in flavors, headlining the palate-cleansing Asian flavors of chili, ginger, and lime.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
While cleansing conditioners will gently clean your curls, don’t expect the product to lather much.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 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 30 Apr. 2026.
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