cathartic

[ kuh-thahr-tik ]

/ kəˈθɑr tɪk /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR cathartic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to catharsis.

Also ca·thar·ti·cal. evacuating the bowels; purgative.

noun

a purgative.

Origin of cathartic

1605–15; < Late Latin catharticus < Greek kathartikós fit for cleansing. See catharsis, -tic

SYNONYMS FOR cathartic

3 laxative, physic.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR cathartic ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM cathartic

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

Words nearby cathartic

cath-, cath., cathar, catharine wheel, catharsis, cathartic, cathay, cathead, cathect, cathectic, cathedra

Example sentences from the Web for cathartic

The acknowledgment of these crimes, which came as part of an amnesty for them, was a cathartic moment for El Salvador.

Bringing El Salvador Nun Killers to Justice |Raymond Bonner |November 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
It was a cathartic moment for the brand, though far from a guarantee to help restore it to its glory days.

It Was All a Dream: Drama, Bullshit, and the Rebirth of The Source Magazine |Alex Suskind |October 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In that way that was cathartic too, to sort of stitch up all those pieces and see how that is.

Richard Blanco’s Gay Latino Poet Survival Kit |William O’Connor |October 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Both this and your next film, Listen Up Philip, are breakup stories—is it cathartic to act through stories like these?

Is Elisabeth Moss the One 'True Detective' Loves? She Doesn't Deny It. |Melissa Leon |August 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The show offers no cathartic “gotcha” moments, no easy answers, and no rapid-fire dialogue.

Stop Everything and Go Watch ‘Rectify' |Jason Lynch |June 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
And Westerners – especially those with interest in these regions of the world – reacted with great, cathartic enthusiasm.

After the Rain |Sam Vaknin
It actually has emetic and cathartic properties, but even these are inferior to those possessed by many other drugs.

The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 1 of 2 |Various
It is no cathartic method, abreacting real and phantastic "traumata," with or without hypnosis.

Collected Papers on Analytical Psychology |C. G. Jung
Recommended as antibilious, cathartic, chemical family pills.

Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I |Arnold Cooley
It is a General Sedative, and a Cathartic; in large doses, an irritant poison.

The Action of Medicines in the System |Frederick William Headland

British Dictionary definitions for cathartic

cathartic

/ (kəˈθɑːtɪk) /

adjective

purgative

effecting catharsis

noun

a purgative drug or agent

Derived forms of cathartic

cathartically, adverb

Medical definitions for cathartic

cathartic

[ kə-thär′tĭk ]

adj.

Inducing catharsis; purgative.

n.

An agent for purging the bowels, especially a laxative.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

cathartic

adjective

noun

Origin of cathartic

SYNONYMS FOR cathartic

OTHER WORDS FROM cathartic

Words nearby cathartic

Example sentences from the Web for cathartic

British Dictionary definitions for cathartic

adjective

noun

Derived forms of cathartic

Medical definitions for cathartic

adj.

n.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

cathartic

adjective

noun

Origin of cathartic

SYNONYMS FOR cathartic

OTHER WORDS FROM cathartic

Words nearby cathartic

Words related to cathartic

Example sentences from the Web for cathartic

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for cathartic

adjective

noun

Derived forms of cathartic

Medical definitions for cathartic

adj.

n.

British Dictionary definitions for cathartic