as in cleansing
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1
as in purging
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially
Catholics go to confession to be purified
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in filtering
to remove usually visible impurities from
purify the water by distillation
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Recent Examples of purifying
Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
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
For example, those that change the cooling solution or solvent, which is typically used in the process of separating and purifying nuclear materials.
—Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025
One of the best home deals available, this one looks futuristic and boasts excellent purifying power.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
The unit also features an air-purifying system, automatic defrosting function, and interior LED light that can be set for a blue, amber, or white glow.
—Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Nov. 2025
Rubber plants have broad waxy leaves that are effective in purifying the air from toxins and absorbing bacteria and mold spores.
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Nov. 2025
Berenter said people have become more familiar with the concept of purifying sewage — and much more trusting of the science behind it — since San Diego first floated the idea two decades ago.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
Like the process of purifying reuse water, the desalination process is more expensive than the typical methods of treating non-brackish groundwater for consumption.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
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
For example, those that change the cooling solution or solvent, which is typically used in the process of separating and purifying nuclear materials.
—Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025
One of the best home deals available, this one looks futuristic and boasts excellent purifying power.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
The unit also features an air-purifying system, automatic defrosting function, and interior LED light that can be set for a blue, amber, or white glow.
—Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Nov. 2025
Rubber plants have broad waxy leaves that are effective in purifying the air from toxins and absorbing bacteria and mold spores.
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Nov. 2025
Berenter said people have become more familiar with the concept of purifying sewage — and much more trusting of the science behind it — since San Diego first floated the idea two decades ago.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
Like the process of purifying reuse water, the desalination process is more expensive than the typical methods of treating non-brackish groundwater for consumption.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purifying
Adjective
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To use the bestseller, distribute three pumps over the face and neck daily, post-cleansing, and start savoring its impressive effects after a couple of months of consistent application.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
26 Dec. 2025
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Mario Badescu’s no-frills formula refines pores and soothes skin post-cleansing with witch hazel and rose water.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
18 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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
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And so every autocrat ends up purging any kind of critic.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Supports Liver Health Coffee can help protect the liver, the body’s filtering organ.—
Cory Martin,
Verywell Health,
5 Feb. 2026
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Forced to turn his pledge into a lie, his dramatic solution was to impose filtering equally on everyone.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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When one family’s nightmare becomes nationally syndicated, though, attention can become a demand—for more detail, for more drama, for a cathartic conclusion.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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This thriller could be a, ahem, cathartic read for the jaded.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This could be clarifying for you both.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
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Start by clarifying the need, then apply the effort.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Many stepwells were used for ablution; the tanks associated with mosques, Hindu temples and other shrines offered the most purificatory form. Summoning water from the depths was also a symbol of temporal power.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
13 July 2019
Verb
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Luckritz said the departments would continue refining the data dashboards before releasing them to the public later this year.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
4 Feb. 2026
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Disney’s post-Iger leaders will face number of headaches, including managing ongoing declines in linear TV, coping with the surging cost of sports rights and refining the strategy in streaming.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Among the more moving cases that Blair describes are those of people who in life were vulnerable and powerless but in death were considered formidable threats.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
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The offense is considered a non-moving violation with no license points, though vehicles can be towed in some cases.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purifying. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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