as in excitable
bringing about a relief from strong emotions usually by expressing them
It was very cathartic to finally tell my childhood bully exactly what I thought of him.
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as in drug
a substance used to induce or speed up the process of defecation
Epsom salts, when ingested, act as a cathartic.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cathartic
Brendan Hay, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
That’s why the Pistons’ 30-3 run to start the third quarter must have been so cathartic for Pistons fans.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The result is an album of cathartic sounds where Icona Pop brazenly shed the past.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
And the documentary, in a way, was cathartic.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Adjective
As such, the songs here are equally cathartic and stressful, frequently in the same song, occasionally in the same exact moment.
—Brendan Hay, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
That’s why the Pistons’ 30-3 run to start the third quarter must have been so cathartic for Pistons fans.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The result is an album of cathartic sounds where Icona Pop brazenly shed the past.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
And the documentary, in a way, was cathartic.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cathartic
Adjective
-
An unexpected collaboration opportunity is very possible under today’s trine between excitable Mars and erratic Uranus.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
At the Ricardo residence in the ’50s sitcom I Love Lucy, over-the-top housewife Lucy and Ricky, her excitable husband, were always getting into some sort of entertaining hijinks.—
Michael Gioia,
Architectural Digest,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
No antiviral drugs or vaccines currently exist to prevent or reduce symptoms.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
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Last month, he was arrested in Arkansas and faced multiple charges including speeding and drug possession, according to online jail records.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Language development, emotional regulation, problem-solving, and relationship-building all begin before age three.—
Tina Dello Russo,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
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The set was an emotional roller coaster with four deuces and eight service errors by the Highlanders.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Sales of purgatives, tonics, syrups and patent medicines like Carter’s Little Liver Pills went through the roof as ordinary people were encouraged to closely monitor the frequency and quality of their bowel movements.—
Elsa Richardson,
TIME,
3 Oct. 2024
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Or merely the tall-tale purgative of a frantic Purgatorian?—
Tom Nolan,
WSJ,
11 June 2021
Adjective
-
Anderson, like Wharton, is exciting but would also be extremely expensive, probably north of £100million.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
March 21 – April 19 A bold move could set exciting momentum in motion today.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Talk to your doctor about your medications, as some medications have side effects that can increase your fall risk.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
12 May 2026
-
Fragmented treatment infrastructure More broadly, the nation’s treatment infrastructure for excessive alcohol consumption remains fragmented, medications remain underutilized, and harm-reduction strategies long embraced by other countries remain taboo.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Sara Gyorgy has put together the most impressive resume in the Fort Worth-area and can return for a senior season to chase her fourth state title.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 May 2026
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This is the latest impressive pop music booking for PeoplesBank Arena, the downtown Hartford venue previously known as Hartford Civic Center and XL Center, which underwent a major renovation as well as a name change last year.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
11 May 2026
Noun
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The hijacking of humanitarian aid convoys by Hamas and armed gangs prevented the civilian population from receiving food and medicines.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
-
Today the United States leads the world in biopharmaceutical innovation, with American companies driving 55% of global R&D and producing more new medicines than any other country.—
Joaquin Duato,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cathartic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cathartic. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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