purging

[ pur-jing ]

adjective

1. having a clearing, emptying, or purifying effect:

   Her fears of death have passed like a cloud, absorbed in the purging sunlight of clear poetry.

2. having to do with deliberate or induced vomiting or evacuation of the bowels: These purging drugs have an excellent safety record.

   Many physical conditions result from the purging aspect of bulimia, including electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal problems, and dental issues.

   These purging drugs have an excellent safety record.

noun

1. the action of clearing, emptying, or purifying:

   It may require a lot of focused work involving the purging of old habits and harsh self-judgment.

   The drugs have been used clinically in the purging of T-cells or tumor cells from bone marrow before transplantation.

2. the act of removing or expelling people who are considered disloyal or otherwise unwanted from an organization, political party, nation, etc.:

   The judge has granted a temporary injunction stopping the purging of voter registration rolls.

   The rebels’ key negotiating point was the purging of the armed forces as a first condition.

3. deliberate or induced vomiting or evacuation of the bowels: The medication affects the salivary glands, tear ducts, intestines, and bowels, and can cause violent purging.

   Binge eating can also occur on its own without the purging that occurs with bulimia.

   The medication affects the salivary glands, tear ducts, intestines, and bowels, and can cause violent purging.

Word History and Origins

Origin of purging¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; purg(e) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses; purg(e) ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses

Example Sentences

It’s something she’s touched on in her music before, in 2012’s Electra Heart, on track Teen Idle, she alludes to being bulimic, with mentions of purging.

From BBC

In all, Trump wants to “purify” the “blood” of the nation by purging it of all “undesirables” – as defined by his corrupt personal standards and fascist political vision.

From Salon

Umberg, who is a rescue dog owner, said the California Department of Food and Agriculture must stop purging import records that could help trace dogs back to puppy mills.

From Los Angeles Times

While the study didn’t specifically ask about BMI screening, it linked perceived overweight status to increased self-starvation, binging, purging, and overexercising, as well as the development of eating disorders.

From Salon

In an example of the rhetorical strategy known as stochastic terrorism, Trump talks about revenge, retribution, and a final battle, and purging the country of the “human vermin” who have polluted “the blood” of America.

From Salon