cathartic
Americanadjective
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of or relating to catharsis.
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Also cathartical. evacuating the bowels; purgative.
noun
adjective
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purgative
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effecting catharsis
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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catharticalnessnoun
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hypercatharticadjective
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noncatharticadjective
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noncatharticaladjective
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semicatharticadjective
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uncatharticadjective
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catharticallyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
See Examples For:
“This raising should serve as a cathartic event and clear the overhang from the share price,” says analyst Martyn Jacobs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
I cannot think of another who would call for, and take such cathartic pleasure in, Helen Mirren’s reading of “Ulysses” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026
"Oh my God, it was amazing. It was cathartic," she laughs at the memory.
From BBC ● May 2, 2026
“This book is not cathartic for me — let’s just go there,” Applegate recently told The Times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2026
And passionate, cathartic church, that was black church.
From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah
Children and infants present difficulties because they cannot explain their com plaints and because parents too often give destructive cathartics.
From Time Magazine Archive
Eighteen years ago, before the profession in general had really begun its modern investigation of cathartics, the American Medical Association published a handbook on the subject written by Dr. Fantus.
From Time Magazine Archive
Castor oil and calomel are drastic cathartics, should be taken only on advice of a physician.
From Time Magazine Archive
Appendicitis is another situation where cathartics may not be used without discretion.
From Time Magazine Archive
A heavy shot crashed into the surgeon's dispensary, and mixed emetics, cathartics, pills and powders not according to prescriptions.
From The Boys of '61 or, Four Years of Fighting, Personal Observations with the Army and Navy by Coffin, Charles Carleton
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.
