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
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
17 June 2026
As the film’s dance sequences played in front of me before ending in an ecstatic, cathartic rave-release, I was reminded again of that hopeful feeling for what the future may hold.
—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
16 June 2026
There’s a shocking and unfortunately realistic twist in the plot, and then a cathartic dance performance that left many in the opening-night audience wiping away tears.
—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 June 2026
Even without being in the same place, Leigh and Dane's return marked a cathartic moment for fans of the show.
—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Adjective
These days, fear and absurdity walk hand in hand, and anyone who’s scrolled a news feed knows how quickly abject terror can morph into cathartic giggles.
—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
17 June 2026
As the film’s dance sequences played in front of me before ending in an ecstatic, cathartic rave-release, I was reminded again of that hopeful feeling for what the future may hold.
—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
16 June 2026
There’s a shocking and unfortunately realistic twist in the plot, and then a cathartic dance performance that left many in the opening-night audience wiping away tears.
—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 June 2026
Even without being in the same place, Leigh and Dane's return marked a cathartic moment for fans of the show.
—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cathartic
Adjective
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The studio released the official trailer for the film on Thursday, showing Edgar-Jones as the formidable Elinor Dashwood; Esmé Creed-Miles as her excitable sister, Marianne; and Bodhi Rae Breathnach as their youngest sibling, Margaret.
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The excitable kids had been instructed several times to give Bryce Young room.
Noun
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But George played just 41 games in the 2024-25 season and 37 last season, when he was suspended for 25 games late in the regular season for violating the league’s drug policy.
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The drugs typically range in cost from $2,000 to $3,500 for a 30-day supply.
Adjective
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Contreras, meanwhile, entered Tuesday's game after an emotional stretch.
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Humanitarian workers say the emotional toll is becoming increasingly visible inside temporary shelters.
Noun
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Maintenance inhalers are either long-acting airway dilators or anti-inflammatory medications like steroids that patients should take daily.
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Though effective medication exists, the issue is persistent in areas with a lack of easy access to testing, treatment and clean water so people don't rely on local bodies of water for drinking and bathing.
Adjective
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The result is a chain of polite, yet simultaneously radical buildings with an exciting contour resembling a mountainous landscape – adding ‘bergen’ in De Bergen!
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The modern building is an exciting addition to the Fort Worth Cultural District and people are situated in backs around the lobby.
Noun
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The leading causes of death have changed dramatically since America's founding 250 years ago, highlighting how far medicine has come.
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The findings have not yet been peer-reviewed, but scientists say the work represents an important step toward understanding the basic building blocks of life and developing new technologies that could one day be used in medicine.
Adjective
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Rooms frame garden and water views through floor-to-ceiling windows, with wraparound balconies in Sea Suites facing Istanbul’s impressive skyline.
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So, even more impressive to me is the way these grills can hold hot flames stable.
Noun
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Her remedy isn't avoidance, but direct conversation—giving people space to talk through what went wrong before launching the next effort.
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The dealers will inspect and repair or replace the fender flares as necessary, free of charge, as part of the recall remedy, NHTSA said.
Cite this Entry
“Cathartic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cathartic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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