1
as in to purge
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially
in an elaborate ritual the priestess cleansed the gathering of supplicants
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to clean
to remove the dirt from
cleanse the wound with soap and water before applying the bandage
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cleanse
Use the ginger between courses to cleanse your palate.
—
Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
The formula pairs a deeper-cleansing base with glycerin, honey, and nourishing oils like coconut, avocado, and argan to lift buildup without that stripped, dry feeling that can trigger frizz.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Apr. 2026
Pat it in after cleansing and your skin feels instantly juicier.
—Anita Bhagwandas, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Leaving Neverland director Dan Reed also spoke to Rolling Stone about the release of Michael and the efforts to cleanse the singer’s legacy.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
The formula pairs a deeper-cleansing base with glycerin, honey, and nourishing oils like coconut, avocado, and argan to lift buildup without that stripped, dry feeling that can trigger frizz.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Apr. 2026
Pat it in after cleansing and your skin feels instantly juicier.
—Anita Bhagwandas, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Leaving Neverland director Dan Reed also spoke to Rolling Stone about the release of Michael and the efforts to cleanse the singer’s legacy.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cleanse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanse
Verb
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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,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
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On defense, the Kings have purged talent with limited or no value in return in recent years.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Just a week after one woman on Jenner’s cleaning staff sued her, claiming her co-workers harassed and discriminated against her, another housekeeper has come out with allegations.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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Mahan, who is running for governor, said in his official argument for Measure A that the revenue priorities include faster police, fire, and emergency response, as well as cleaning graffiti and maintaining parks.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanse. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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