exorcise

verb

ex·​or·​cise ˈek-ˌsȯr-ˌsīz  -sər- 

variants or less commonly exorcize

exorcised also exorcized; exorcising also exorcizing

transitive verb

1

a

: to expel (an evil spirit) by adjuration

b

: to get rid of (something troublesome, menacing, or oppressive)

2

: to free of an evil spirit

exorciser noun

Synonyms

• cashier
• cast (off)
• chuck
• deep-six
• discard
• ditch
• dump
• eighty-six
• 86
• fling (off or away)
• jettison
• junk
• lay by
• lose
• pitch
• reject
• scrap
• shed
• shuck (off)
• slough (off)
• sluff (off)
• throw away
• throw out
• toss
• unload

Examples of exorcise in a Sentence

The movie is about a priest who tries to exorcise demons from a young girl.

please exorcise that offensive word from your vocabulary

Recent Examples on the Web

More demons that can be considered exorcised, Payton said. —Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024

In the film, the Charles family must reconnect with its past to exorcise the spirit, both literal and existential, that troubles them. —Stuart Miller, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024

The Dolphins tried their best to exorcise their demons against the Bills, who now have won 13 of 14 against Miami. —Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024

Three years wiser with two seasons of college competition steeling her nerves, Chiles put together a stellar qualification Sunday to exorcise her Olympic demons. —Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French exorciscer, from Late Latin exorcizare, from Greek exorkizein, from ex- + horkizein to bind by oath, adjure, from horkos oath

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

exorcise

verb

ex·​or·​cise ˈek-ˌsȯr-ˌsīz 

-sər-

exorcised; exorcising

: to drive (as an evil spirit) off by calling upon some holy name or by spells