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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Ben Rosenstock, TIME, 13 Feb. 2025
But for her community, comedy is cathartic and therapeutic.
—Dakin Andone, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025
Molly Longman, refinery29.com, 11 Jan. 2021
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Adjective
That includes a pair of surprisingly cathartic conversations between him and John Kreese (Martin Kove), the sensei whose verbal and even physical abuse kicked off his slide into self-loathing and eventually alcoholism after that loss in 1984.
—Ben Rosenstock, TIME, 13 Feb. 2025
But for her community, comedy is cathartic and therapeutic.
—Dakin Andone, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025
Noun
Some people find free-writing in a journal cathartic.
—Molly Longman, refinery29.com, 11 Jan. 2021
See All Example Sentences for cathartic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cathartic
Adjective
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So does that of an excitable young engineer (Jonas Strand Gravli) who pesters him with seemingly fanciful technological dreams.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
5 Feb. 2025
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There’s lots of snarky, adult humor and many high-stakes moments that may be too excitable for younger audiences.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Still, much of that reliance – in particular, on China and India – is for generic medicines, Ricks pointed out, noting that Lilly doesn’t make those drugs.—
Meg Tirrell,
CNN,
26 Feb. 2025
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Editor's note: Zelenskyy is expected to meet with Trump in Washington on Friday to sign an deal to provide critical raw materials used for items like electric vehicle batteries and cancer drugs.—
Obed Manuel,
NPR,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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That final act also sets the scene for an emotional catharsis of sorts that attempts to wring tears out of the audience, with an aggressive assist from Alan Silvestri’s hard-working score.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Mar. 2025
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Examine your emotional reactions One of the hallmarks of misinformation is its ability to provoke strong emotional responses, whether outrage, fear or validation.—
Seth Ashley,
The Conversation,
7 Mar. 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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Spread across 55 acres, the estate has become one of England’s most exciting wine producers, turning out crisp still and sparkling wines that rival Champagne.—
Lela London,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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The rise of women-only travel experiences means there are now more opportunities to explore the world in a way that feels empowering and exciting and, to be real—downright liberating.—
Tykesha Spivey Burton,
Essence,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But Dana only needs a little bit of help to get the medication Aiden needs to be made.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
28 Feb. 2025
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Most people taking antidepressants will not experience withdrawal symptoms when quitting the medications, experts said.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Schultz and Smith both pitched three impressive scoreless innings in their two Cactus League outings.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2025
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In reaction to the impressive results, Siebert Williams Shank analyst Gabriele Sorbara reaffirmed a buy rating on FANG stock with a price target of $230.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Ambler's work has attracted attention from leading advocates of music in medicine, reflecting a growing international movement.—
Elizabeth Cook,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2025
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Tailoring health offerings to meet local needs can involve designing low-cost diagnostics for rural areas, incorporating traditional medicine into product portfolios or addressing dietary health concerns unique to specific populations.—
Aman Gupta,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cathartic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cathartic. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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