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 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

And out rushes a blazingly cathartic torrent of honesty and horror.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s cathartic and cleansing, and sometimes I see dolphins.

From Los Angeles Times

"In a cathartic way it did play a little bit of a factor in my retirement as I knew you've got to let this kid fly now."

From BBC

“This book is not cathartic for me — let’s just go there,” Applegate says.

From Los Angeles Times