as in restoring
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially
a day on which the faithful are expected to purge themselves of their sins through prayer and fasting
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Recent Examples of purging
Heaters are keeping the Orion capsule warm atop the rocket, officials said, and rocket-purging systems are also being adapted to the cold.
—
Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
And so every autocrat ends up purging any kind of critic.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
Back in Texas, five days of purging await.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 12 Jan. 2026
Maduro complemented the repressive apparatus by purging institutions of anyone who dared dissent.
—Dallas Morning News, 3 Jan. 2026
Start With a Thoughtful Edit Finding new life in your existing wardrobe starts by purging what doesn't have anything left for you.
—Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
Ross needs to lean into purging this franchise of its mediocre ways, which has turned a generation of South Florida fans away from football.
—Omar Kelly
october 31, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
In an interview with Cycling Weekly last year, Slovenian Jan Tratnik said that his desperation to lose weight led him to develop bulimia – binge-eating large amounts of food and purging it to avoid weight gain.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
The country is undergoing a regulatory overhaul since Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad dissolved parliament in 2024, with reforms accompanied by purging citizenships the government says were fraudulently obtained, though rights groups say political opponents have also been targeted.
—semafor.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
And so every autocrat ends up purging any kind of critic.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
Back in Texas, five days of purging await.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 12 Jan. 2026
Maduro complemented the repressive apparatus by purging institutions of anyone who dared dissent.
—Dallas Morning News, 3 Jan. 2026
Start With a Thoughtful Edit Finding new life in your existing wardrobe starts by purging what doesn't have anything left for you.
—Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
Ross needs to lean into purging this franchise of its mediocre ways, which has turned a generation of South Florida fans away from football.
—Omar Kelly
october 31, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
In an interview with Cycling Weekly last year, Slovenian Jan Tratnik said that his desperation to lose weight led him to develop bulimia – binge-eating large amounts of food and purging it to avoid weight gain.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
The country is undergoing a regulatory overhaul since Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad dissolved parliament in 2024, with reforms accompanied by purging citizenships the government says were fraudulently obtained, though rights groups say political opponents have also been targeted.
—semafor.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purging
Verb
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Trump cut federal ties with the firm before Karp cut a deal with the White House, restoring the relationship.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Feb. 2026
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But if the state Senate fails to act in the service of saving the waning hope of restoring democracy in this country, then Maryland and all our residents will bear some responsibility for the consequences.—
Sherrilyn Ifill,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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How to use hypochlorous acid Apply HOCl after cleansing your skin but before serums or moisturizers, Garshick says.—
Erica Sweeney,
Time,
28 Jan. 2026
-
When should makeup remover wipes be used instead of cleansing balms?—
Tatayana Yomary,
Essence,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Aggressive training overwhelms healing tissue.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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Pore Minimizing Skin Care in Your 60s A dermatologist previously told me that the chief thing people in their 60s should look for in their skin care products is ingredients that boost skin’s healing capabilities and barrier strength.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When taken together in the evening, extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice are said to act synergistically to create a gently purifying antioxidant blend.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
29 Jan. 2026
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Crews continue to work in the crash site around Grade Lane, just south of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, hauling away contaminated soil, purifying water and repairing roadways.—
Stephanie Stremplewski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purging. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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