1
as in to purge
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially
Catholics go to confession to be purified
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2
as in to filter
to remove usually visible impurities from
purify the water by distillation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of purify
The lightweight gel also features hectorite clay—a purifying agent to absorb excess sebum—niacinamide, and of course, ceramides to quell shine and keep blemishes at bay.
—
Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2025
Seeing that his comments moved Clarkson, Richie shot up, closed his eyes, and placed his hand to her forehead as if to purify her of her grief.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
After using explosives and heavy machinery to extract ore from the earth, mining companies must isolate and purify the minerals in question.
—Vanessa Bates Ramirez, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2025
Antimony also is used in clean-energy technologies, including liquid-metal batteries, and for purifying glass in solar panels.
—Kevin Fixler
september 20, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purify
Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2025
Seeing that his comments moved Clarkson, Richie shot up, closed his eyes, and placed his hand to her forehead as if to purify her of her grief.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
After using explosives and heavy machinery to extract ore from the earth, mining companies must isolate and purify the minerals in question.
—Vanessa Bates Ramirez, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2025
Antimony also is used in clean-energy technologies, including liquid-metal batteries, and for purifying glass in solar panels.
—Kevin Fixler
september 20, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purify
Verb
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Ross needs to lean into purging this franchise of its mediocre ways, which has turned a generation of South Florida fans away from football.—
Omar Kelly
October 31,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
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Studios en masse suspended all of its first look and overall arrangements with writers, and the studios used the opportunity to purge from its ranks some of the expensive ones with talent that weren’t actually resulting in any shows.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Though unsafe to eat from city waters, oysters are among the most efficient purifying devices, each adult capable of filtering up to fifty gallons a day.—
Ben McGrath,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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Vogue is committed to reporting and riffing on the global fashion conversation—always filtered through the lens of culture and what’s happening in the world at large.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The former Fox News personality blasted Curtis for clarifying a set of comments regarding the conservative activist's killing on Wednesday's episode of The Megyn Kelly Show.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
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Jordan clarifies that his comment about regretting introducing Luca to Megan had nothing to do with Megan and was more about his decision to be on Love Is Blind when his son needs stability.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Takako Fuji originated the role of Kayako when the character and concept that would become The Grudge were still being refined back in Japan in the late '90s.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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This final step uses cobalt molybdenum as the most effective catalyst to refine the oil into pure hydrocarbons that meet jet fuel specifications.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The formula blends niacinamide, essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and Centella asiatica extract into a base of luxe shea butter to restore and strengthen the lips’ delicate skin.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
25 Oct. 2025
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Here’s How to Tell To extract that DNA, the researchers had to get samples from the paleofeces from the cave.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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They can be scheduled to clean specific rooms at set times.—
Kelsey Mulvey,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
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In the Dominican Republic, an adult died after having been sucked in a sewer while trying to clean it, the deputy director of the country's emergency agency, Julian Garcia, told NBC News.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purify. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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