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
Sensitive skin benefits from minimal ingredient lists with calming actives and mild surfactants that cleanse without irritation.
—
Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
How to care for your crystals Yes, our crystals need cleansing too.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025
Droves of customers just bought this Garnier micellar water that expertly removes makeup and gently cleanses the skin without stripping it bare.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Japanese restaurants don't provide napkins – restaurants tend to offer only oshibori, or a wet towel to cleanse your hands – so bring some of your own.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleanse
Verb
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For me, January is always a time to reflect on my personal style from the previous year, take inventory of my closet and purge anything that’s gathering dust, and, above all, think about ways to make getting dressed feel exciting again during the most dreary time of the year.—
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With the flames and heat, SoCalGas’s lines failed to purge or shut down, leading to natural gas flowing at high pressure from the lines, helping the fire to spread, the suit said.—
Verb
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Gently clean the seal regularly baking soda or dish soap to remove mold and keep it flexible.—
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Cream of Tartar & Lemon Juice Paste Like baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, cream of tartar and lemon shockingly has cleaning and brightening properties that are effective for lifting dirt and stains off grout lines.—
Cite this Entry
“Cleanse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleanse. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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