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

“It has been very cathartic to use the world as a sounding board,” the rapper said at the time.

From Los Angeles Times

Playing a character who goes off the rails was cathartic for Turner, who shot the series in 2024 shortly after moving back to England following her messy divorce from pop star Joe Jonas.

From Los Angeles Times

“Greenland 2: Migration” offers up a proudly, even defiantly optimistic view of what comes after disaster, which can serve for the viewer as either cathartic fictional balm, or Pollyanna-ish fantasy — pick your poison.

From Los Angeles Times

They find their own experience out of it, which can be quite emotional and quite cathartic in a good way.

From Los Angeles Times

"It just sounded to me like a really interesting sound and something that I could incorporate into the cathartic nature of my work."

From BBC