cathartic

American  

[kuh-thahr-tik] / kəˈθɑr tɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to catharsis.

2. Also cathartical. evacuating the bowels; purgative.

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noun

1. a purgative.

   Synonyms:

   physic, laxative

cathartic British  

/ kəˈθɑːtɪk /

adjective

1. purgative

2. effecting catharsis

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noun

1. a purgative drug or agent

Other Word Forms

• cathartically adverb
• catharticalness noun
• hypercathartic adjective
• noncathartic adjective
• noncathartical adjective
• semicathartic adjective
• uncathartic adjective

Etymology

Origin of cathartic

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

Example Sentences

The emotional combustion of his climactic scenes with Willy fail to reach cathartic levels.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

"It was a cathartic moment for the islanders. Testament not just to Sergei and Tszman, but to the island itself and what it takes to live on an island like that."

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

For 23-year-old Lucas Leach, who plays pickpocket Gabriel, returning to school to film Crookhaven was a cathartic experience.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

After a difficult first season following his move from Sporting Lisbon, Gyokeres' goals were as cathartic for the Sweden striker as Eze's were for him.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

And one could only be left to sit back and witness this spectacle, waiting to see if anything brilliant or cathartic would come about.

From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley