1
as in inferno
a temporary place or state in which the souls of people who die make amends for their sins
It was a summer job that felt like purgatory to the teen.
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2
as in nightmare
a place or state of temporary suffering
We found ourselves trapped in the purgatory of a rush-hour traffic jam.
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Recent Examples of purgatory
The Hawks climbed their way out of Play-In purgatory, finishing the regular season with the franchise’s second-best record in a decade.
—
Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 2 May 2026
Realism is achieved not through bare-bones scenic furniture but through the combustible relationships of characters who exist with one another in a purgatory of disillusionment.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The last few seasons in play-in purgatory and this one out of the NBA playoffs entirely have made the last parade seem ever-distant and cast the next one in doubt.
—Greg Cote
april 28, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
All of the cases remain in a form of purgatory, despite the high court leaving the question of whether adults under 21 years old are also entitled to the right to purchase and own firearms.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for purgatory
Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 2 May 2026
Realism is achieved not through bare-bones scenic furniture but through the combustible relationships of characters who exist with one another in a purgatory of disillusionment.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The last few seasons in play-in purgatory and this one out of the NBA playoffs entirely have made the last parade seem ever-distant and cast the next one in doubt.
—Greg Cote
april 28, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
All of the cases remain in a form of purgatory, despite the high court leaving the question of whether adults under 21 years old are also entitled to the right to purchase and own firearms.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for purgatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purgatory
Noun
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The fire is believed to have started in the kitchen on the second floor, but the cause of the inferno has not yet been determined, per CBS News.—
Latoya Gayle,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
Pratt took aim at Bass over the lack of water available during the inferno, with fire hydrants running dry.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Noun
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The Los Angeles Dodgers could face a massive PR nightmare from LA vegans as star pitcher Edwin Diaz finds himself at the center of a federal animal cruelty scandal.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
Brutal start for Ducks The first period was an absolute nightmare for the Ducks.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The rules of this netherworld announce themselves, early on, via a nondescript wall sign.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Now, in an age of instant communications, their Cold War counterparts could nonetheless disappear into a covert netherworld, loosening Washington’s controls and freeing them to plot coups, mobilize armies, and install governments.—
Alfred McCoy,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Kirby, screaming in agony, was on his knees as officers ordered him to drop a knife, according to video.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
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The sight of a heart-and-soul player in agony on the ice, then being helped off it — by captain Marie-Philip Poulin, Stacey’s wife — was a shock.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
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The sequel series is based on similar – and familiar – concepts of love, loyalty and betrayal, once again set in the mafia underworld.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
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What began as a documentary about the criminal underworld evolved into a fictional – and disturbing – portrait that blurs the line between reality and imagination.—
Roberto Prieto,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Noun
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As words have incantatory power to shift elements of fate, as well as matters of the heart, this project calls forward questions around an alleged family curse from Nagasaki and the writing process as its own counter-spell.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Press conferences can be a blessing and a curse for football managers.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
All hell is unleashed as the aliens representing all kinds of shapes and class divisions from that planet square off with the locals.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
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Suddenly, all hell broke loose.—
Sebastian Smee,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Manker said the ordeal left her family shaken.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
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The Hondius was now in a different kind of storm—an ordeal reminiscent of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, with passengers mysteriously falling ill, health workers wearing hazmat suits, and governments imposing quarantines.—
Akash Kapur,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purgatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purgatory. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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