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 administration has provided no explanation for purging the board, which helps steer the National Science Foundation and acts as an independent advisory body for the president and Congress on scientific and engineering issues, providing reports throughout the year.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
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Roenicke never had a chance, taking over a team that would soon go on a salary dump that purged Betts, the 2018 AL MVP, along with 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner David Price.—
Jimmy Golen,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 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 5 May. 2026.
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