as in purification
the act or fact of freeing from sin or moral guilt
underwent a cleansing before he could enter the temple's most sacred chamber
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in purging
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially
in an elaborate ritual the priestess cleansed the gathering of supplicants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cleaning
to remove the dirt from
cleanse the wound with soap and water before applying the bandage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in purifying
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cleansing
Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2025
Start by cleansing the affected area with mild soap and warm water, then pat dry.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Jan. 2025
Caress Daily Silk Bar Soap Transform shower time while gently cleansing your skin with the refreshing fragrance and rich, creamy lather of the Caress Daily Silk Bar Soap.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Apply on face and neck after cleansing.
—Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
Over four songs that span the length of a feature film, Sumac turn The Healer into a beguiling feat of experimental metal that’s at once cleansing and terrifying.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2024
This four-piece kit features four of the brand’s top sellers, a standout of which is the cleansing oil—a lightweight formula packed with jojoba, safflower, and apricot kernel oil for hydration, plus green tea extract to soothe irritation, and ginseng and licorice extract for brightening.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Dec. 2024
That means two bottles of this delectable cream in all of its moisturizing, priming, and cleansing glory.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 29 Nov. 2024
Exfoliation should be done right after cleansing your face.
—Rio Viera-Newton, Vogue, 25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
This silicone scrubber is my body cleansing agent of choice.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2025
Start by cleansing the affected area with mild soap and warm water, then pat dry.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Jan. 2025
Caress Daily Silk Bar Soap Transform shower time while gently cleansing your skin with the refreshing fragrance and rich, creamy lather of the Caress Daily Silk Bar Soap.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Apply on face and neck after cleansing.
—Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
Over four songs that span the length of a feature film, Sumac turn The Healer into a beguiling feat of experimental metal that’s at once cleansing and terrifying.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2024
This four-piece kit features four of the brand’s top sellers, a standout of which is the cleansing oil—a lightweight formula packed with jojoba, safflower, and apricot kernel oil for hydration, plus green tea extract to soothe irritation, and ginseng and licorice extract for brightening.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Dec. 2024
That means two bottles of this delectable cream in all of its moisturizing, priming, and cleansing glory.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 29 Nov. 2024
Exfoliation should be done right after cleansing your face.
—Rio Viera-Newton, Vogue, 25 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleansing
Noun
-
As far as advancements in water purification go, this sounds like a breath of fresh air—or a drink of fresh water.—
Elizabeth Rayne,
ArsTechnica,
26 July 2025
-
Corcovado Wilderness Lodge follows suit, with two certifications for eco-tourism, on-site purification of drinking water from rivers, and electricity generated by a combination of a generator and solar panels.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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White encourages cathartic expression of social anger.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
The track is a slow-burning charmer that sneaks up on you, quietly building into seismic, cathartic riffs as McLamb reflects on being a girl among the boys.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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Newman and Curtin also were responsible for one of the night's most moving moments, holding up a photograph of the late Gilda Radner during the cast's goodbyes at the end of the show.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
24 July 2025
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Yet the most moving and memorable picture in the show, aside from Rembrandt’s, is one by his contemporary Hendrick van Steenwijk the Younger, on loan from the National Gallery, in Washington, D.C.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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This image represents one of the first times that astronomers have obtained images of thousands of star-forming regions at this impressive level of detail.—
Rebecca McClain,
Space.com,
31 July 2025
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Cloves, which are commonly used in cooking and baking, pack an impressive amount of inflammation-fighting compounds.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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They are then adopted out to be a pet or are placed in police, fire and EMS stations to provide emotional support.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
-
The vote dashed the hopes of those with the 156-year-old Art Academy, who gave emotional pleas in recent weeks to city leaders for help.—
Scott Wartman,
The Enquirer,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cleansing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleansing. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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