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
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2026
Instead, watching the crash proved cathartic.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
After five straight losses and nearly four weeks without scoring more than three goals, a six-goal outburst was obviously cathartic in the penultimate game before the Olympic break.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Amid memories of childhood abuse and strained relationships, skating was a cathartic outlet for the trio, whose most revealing moments appear through flashback footage and more recent recordings.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Adjective
The songs, by the female rock duo ARXX, make cathartic anthems of these grievances.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2026
Instead, watching the crash proved cathartic.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
After five straight losses and nearly four weeks without scoring more than three goals, a six-goal outburst was obviously cathartic in the penultimate game before the Olympic break.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Amid memories of childhood abuse and strained relationships, skating was a cathartic outlet for the trio, whose most revealing moments appear through flashback footage and more recent recordings.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cathartic
Adjective
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The expressive and excitable young girl stumbles along, while the wary grown-up remains controlled and refined — even though both are completely lost.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Dry ice streams from an inflatable jaguar head, beyond an excitable DJ and announcers on stilts.—
Toby Skinner,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In a 2014 editorial, the Times argued the federal ban on the drug should be repealed, and the decision should be left up to the individual states.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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Last year, his administration announced a series of deals with pharmaceutical companies to lower prices of a few dozen drugs, including some eye-popping decreases of anywhere from 55 to 98 percent.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Kelly’s emotional two-dimensionality increases our anger on behalf of Pidgeon’s Carolyn, a vibrant professional woman who sees her life and her career toxified by the paparazzi and the press.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
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For me, that connection is the emotional core of 17.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 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
-
The park offers one of the most exciting wildlife experiences in Southern Africa, with a million acres of biodiverse savannas, wetlands, and montane rainforests, and a range of animals that includes buffalo herds, lion prides, and an array of birds.—
Lisa Grainger,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Feb. 2026
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That changed two years ago, when the ISU lifted its ban in a bid to make the sport more exciting and popular among younger fans.—
Fernanda Figueroa,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Nancy Guthrie, who is 84, relies on a specific medication for her health, giving the investigation some urgency, according to her family and investigators.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Feb. 2026
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Commonly used medications for infertility, COPD, asthma, dermatitis, hot flashes and osteoporosis are also included.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s impressive for a rebuilding team, but is anyone picking the Ducks over the Oilers in a playoff series?—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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The seven others are an impressive array of politicians and nonpoliticians alike, all articulate and accomplished in various ways.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That deal would enable free trade on almost all goods between the EU's 27 members and India, covering everything from textiles to medicines and bringing down high import taxes for European wine and cars.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
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When to use a neti pot In modern medicine, nasal irrigation through neti pots and other methods such as squeeze bottles and bulb syringes are widely recognized as a supportive therapy for sinus and nasal symptoms.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cathartic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cathartic. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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