cathartic
Americanadjective
-
purgative
-
effecting catharsis
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cathartic
First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin catharticus, from Greek kathartikós “fit for cleansing”; see catharsis, -tic
Explanation
A movie, play, or song that makes you cry is called cathartic. Most good writers try to create work that causes you to experience a strong rush of emotion. If you've been feeling like you need a good cry, you should watch a cathartic movie like Bambi — or any film that's sure to make you weep. Things that are cathartic don't always call up tears. Things that make you scream, like a roller-coaster ride or a boxing match, are also cathartic. Whatever causes you to release a sudden flood of feelings is cathartic. Some therapies ask you to hit a pillow or break dishes, because those can be cathartic activities.
Vocabulary lists containing cathartic
Good Riddance
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"Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began" by Art Spiegelman
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The Poet X
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“This book is not cathartic for me — let’s just go there,” Applegate recently told The Times.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026
Campbell previously told BBC News NI that writing about his condition could be hard but also "cathartic".
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026
A sighting of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., chatting with Mickey Mouse, wand in hand, felt almost cathartic.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
Is that cathartic to write and to perform?
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
I like it out here, it’s cathartic, cleansing, like an ice bath.
From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
