exorcise
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to seek to expel (an evil spirit) by adjuration or religious or solemn ceremonies.
to exorcise a demon.
-
to free (a person, place, etc.) of evil spirits or malignant influences.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
exorcisesimple
-
exorcisessimple
-
have exorcisedperfect
-
has exorcisedperfect
-
am exorcisingprogressive
-
are exorcisingprogressive
-
is exorcisingprogressive
-
have been exorcisingperfect progressive
-
has been exorcisingperfect progressive
Past
-
exorcisedsimple
-
had exorcisedperfect
-
was exorcisingprogressive
-
were exorcisingprogressive
-
had been exorcisingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of exorcise
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin exorcizāre, from Greek exorkízein, equivalent to ex- “out of, from” ( see ex- 3 + (h)orkízein “to cause (someone) to swear an oath”
Explanation
To exorcise is to cast out a devil or evil spirit, using prayer and other religious tools. You're probably familiar with the name of the person who does this: an exorcist. Don't try to exorcise a demon yourself. Call an exorcist. One way to remember the word exorcise is that it sounds like "exercise," which means to work out or train your body or mind. Casting out devils is hard work, so be sure to exercise before you exorcise. A boxer doesn't box without exercising first. And an exorcist doesn't exorcise without getting ready first either. The devil is a tough opponent, so you'd better get warmed up before you try to exorcise him from that little girl.
Vocabulary lists containing exorcise
Power Prefix: ex-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Bless Me, Ultima
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Commonly Confused Words, List 4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
The modern West tried to exorcise these demons.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 19, 2026
“We haven’t forgotten that loss because it ended our season and he helped us exorcise that demon.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2026
I needed to exorcise this thing so it could join the world!
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025
"We start in that world where we're shackled, and then we exorcise it," Taylor explains.
From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2025
Or where Ben-Jamin teams up the Crowned Sorceress, Sam O’Mal, to exorcise the vicious spirits that were possessing Hudsonien so he can find happiness again.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
"She exorcises herself through the use of song, which was really brilliant to do."
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2025
While it never glorifies slavery or secession, it exorcises a spirit of mourning.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2023
In a tearful embrace with De Palma late in the tale, Barrera exorcises Carmen’s pent-up sorrow, convincing us that she is capable of great dramatic nuance, even if the writing doesn’t explore her character’s psychology.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 21, 2023
“I really don’t think it exorcises any demons or anything like that. That game is over and has been played.”
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 17, 2021
It forms an ingredient of the smoke which exorcises the demon that is troubling the heroine Sarah.
From The Book of Delight and Other Papers by Abrahams, Israel
Now he's got the landmark game on the football calendar - and he's exorcised his VAR demons.
From BBC ● May 10, 2026
But Yates, 32, exorcised those ghosts as he attacked on the brutal ascent to leave Del Toro and Carapaz - the 2019 winner - in his wake.
From BBC ● May 31, 2025
“And Just Like That” hasn’t entirely exorcised that image, although Anthony has been updated to add something more to the mix than the bracing splash of tartness flavoring Charlotte’s simple syrup personality.
From Salon ● May 29, 2025
What’s odd about Hellebuyck’s latest meltdown is that just a few weeks ago, it appeared as though he’d exorcised his big-game demons.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2025
We washed the courtyard; we exorcised the house with smoke and red paper.
From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston
On Sunday, he played those three holes par, par and birdie, going some distance toward exorcising the demons of 2011.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2026
LeBron James has 32 points as the Lakers get a second win in Sacramento in three days, exorcising past demons of being dominated recently by their rivals to the north.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2024
Wiktor can help some of the locals by exorcising their demons, but he can also summon salutors to help him fight the imperial Russian soldiers who control the city.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 3, 2024
The Ibrox side had harboured hopes of exorcising last season's disfigured continental campaign but were unable to eject the Dutch from the competition in the way they did here last term.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2023
They were not arresting a man, they were exorcising fear.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
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.
