purgatory
noun
pur·ga·to·ry
ˈpər-gə-ˌtȯr-ē 
plural purgatories
1
: an intermediate state after death for expiatory purification
specifically
: a place or state of punishment wherein according to Roman Catholic doctrine the souls of those who die in God's grace may make satisfaction for past sins and so become fit for heaven
2
: a place or state of temporary suffering or misery
Did you know?
Purgatory is the place where the soul is cleansed of all impurities, as Dante described in his great poem The Divine Comedy. Today purgatory can refer to any place or situation in which suffering and misery are felt to be sharp but temporary. Waiting to hear the results of a test, or whether you got a good job, can be a purgatory. And an endless after-dinner speech can make an entire roomful of people feel as if they're in purgatory.
Examples of purgatory in a Sentence
the purgatory of drug abuse
The marathons were jokingly referred to as one-day purgatories.
Recent Examples on the Web
This scene, combined with another disturbing scene featuring Nikki talking in her sleep, suggests that she is possessed, or that her soul is trapped in a purgatory outside of her body.
—
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Although a lot of software is still in AI-purgatory, stocks like FTNT, PANW and CRWD are clawing their way back.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 18 May 2026
That is a recipe for pilot purgatory.
—Drew Cukor, Fortune, 11 May 2026
At the top, Luis Campusano has reasserted himself as viable option in the majors after a couple years seemingly in purgatory.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for purgatory
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Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Although a lot of software is still in AI-purgatory, stocks like FTNT, PANW and CRWD are clawing their way back.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 18 May 2026
That is a recipe for pilot purgatory.
—Drew Cukor, Fortune, 11 May 2026
At the top, Luis Campusano has reasserted himself as viable option in the majors after a couple years seemingly in purgatory.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for purgatory
Cite this Entry
“Purgatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purgatory. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
purgatory
noun
pur·ga·to·ry
ˈpər-gə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
plural purgatories
: a state after death in which according to Roman Catholic belief the souls of those who die in God's grace are purified of their sins by suffering
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