cathartic

[ kuh-thahr-tik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to catharsis.
2. Also cathartical. evacuating the bowels; purgative.

noun

1. a purgative.

   Synonyms: physic, laxative

cathartic

/ kəˈθɑːtɪk /

adjective

1. purgative
2. effecting catharsis

noun

1. a purgative drug or agent

Derived Forms

• caˈthartically, adverb

Other Words From

• ca·thar·ti·cal·ly adverb
• ca·thar·ti·cal·ness noun
• hy·per·ca·thar·tic adjective
• non·ca·thar·tic adjective noun
• non·ca·thar·ti·cal adjective
• sem·i·ca·thar·tic adjective
• un·ca·thar·tic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cathartic¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin catharticus, from Greek kathartikós “fit for cleansing”; catharsis, -tic

Example Sentences

So it’s been an overwhelming experience, but beautifully cathartic.

From Los Angeles Times

The work, which had its New York premiere on Thursday and repeats on Saturday, is capacious, confounding, cathartic.

From New York Times

"It was quite cathartic. You can go into this headspace where you're almost daydreaming," she said of the latter stages of the race.

From BBC

He has used that time to write a book - All That Matters: My Toughest Race Yet - which is released this week, and says the process was "cathartic".

From BBC

Speaking to BBC Radio 6 Music's Huw Stephens, he said singing live became "hugely cathartic" in escaping the "doom and gloom" he felt.

From BBC