as in excitable
bringing about a relief from strong emotions usually by expressing them
It was very cathartic to finally tell my childhood bully exactly what I thought of him.
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as in drug
a substance used to induce or speed up the process of defecation
Epsom salts, when ingested, act as a cathartic.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cathartic
Junnelle Hogen, Outside, 19 Oct. 2025
There’s a fear of being misunderstood, but there’s also a cathartic freedom.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
That truth feels at least as cathartic, in its own gallows-wisdom way, as a big farewell party.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
And that's very fun and cathartic to do.
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Adjective
There was something cathartic in that.
—Junnelle Hogen, Outside, 19 Oct. 2025
There’s a fear of being misunderstood, but there’s also a cathartic freedom.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
That truth feels at least as cathartic, in its own gallows-wisdom way, as a big farewell party.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
And that's very fun and cathartic to do.
—H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cathartic
Adjective
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Don Phillips, the casting director, was an excitable character who put his whole heart into finding new faces.—
Cameron Crowe,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
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The text is excitable and wayward, while many of the photographs are dramatically dull.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Allen has previously spoken about his two-year stint behind bars after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges in his 20s.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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There is a drug in the same class that was less effective at treating obesity that was approved in 2014.—
Yuki Noguchi,
NPR,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Some do not have the emotional wherewithal to to observe that others have needs as well.—
Joni Eareckson Tada,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Players, coaches, executives and ownership groups have come and gone, but the team remains despite a lengthy and emotional relocation saga that nearly resulted in a move to Seattle.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Sales of purgatives, tonics, syrups and patent medicines like Carter’s Little Liver Pills went through the roof as ordinary people were encouraged to closely monitor the frequency and quality of their bowel movements.—
Elsa Richardson,
TIME,
3 Oct. 2024
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Or merely the tall-tale purgative of a frantic Purgatorian?—
Tom Nolan,
WSJ,
11 June 2021
Adjective
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Watching these flux ropes in the simulation form so quickly and move toward Earth was exciting, but concerning.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Oct. 2025
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Prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2024, Luis Perales had broken out as one of the Red Sox’s most exciting minor league pitchers.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Red yeast rice is a supplement touted as a way to lower cholesterol without prescription medication.—
Sarah Anzlovar,
Verywell Health,
23 Oct. 2025
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According to De La Torre, rosemary essential oil is as effective as minoxidil in a study comparing the two interventions used for six months, with rosemary oil having fewer side effects like the scalp itching associated with topical medications.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This was an impressive tournament that will have surely turned heads.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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The most popular ghost story of this cemetery is that of Rufina Cambaceres, a 19-year-old girl who was laid to rest in 1902 in an impressive art nouveau mausoleum.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Ernst Haeckel had never been entirely convinced that medicine was his calling.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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The Festival, which is the magazine’s signature event, was held in New York City and brought together leading voices in literature, film, comedy, television, politics, and medicine.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cathartic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cathartic. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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