purge

[ purj ]

/ pɜrdʒ /

See synonyms for: purge / purging on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), purged, purg·ing.

to rid of whatever is impure or undesirable; cleanse; purify.

to rid, clear, or free (usually followed by of or from): to purge a political party of disloyal members.

to clear of imputed guilt or ritual uncleanliness.

to clear away or wipe out legally (an offense, accusation, etc.) by atonement or other suitable action.

to remove by cleansing or purifying (often followed by away, off, or out).

to clear or empty (the bowels) by causing evacuation.

to cause evacuation of the bowels of (a person).

to put to death or otherwise eliminate (undesirable or unwanted members) from a political organization, government, nation, etc.

Metallurgy.

to drive off (undesirable gases) from a furnace or stove.
to free (a furnace or stove) of undesirable gases.

verb (used without object), purged, purg·ing.

to become cleansed or purified.

to undergo or cause purging of the bowels.

noun

the act or process of purging.

the removal or elimination of members of a political organization, government, nation, etc., who are considered disloyal or otherwise undesirable.

something that purges, as a purgative medicine or dose.

SYNONYMS FOR purge

8 oust, liquidate, extirpate.

See synonyms for purge on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?

Question 1 of 10

seclusion

a false belief or opinion.

the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.

the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of purge

1250–1300; (v.) Middle English purgen<Old French purg(i)er<Latin pūrgāre to cleanse; (noun) Middle English <Old French, derivative of the v.

OTHER WORDS FROM purge

purge·a·ble, adjectivepurger, nounun·purge·a·ble, adjectiveun·purged, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for purge

The sea, that purger of sick souls, had washed away the fever and the fret of the last few days.
The House of the Vampire|George Sylvester Viereck

British Dictionary definitions for purge

purge

/ (pɜːdʒ) /

verb

(tr) to rid (something) of (impure or undesirable elements)

(tr) to rid (a state, political party, etc) of (dissident or troublesome people)

(tr)

to empty (the bowels) by evacuation of faeces
to cause (a person) to evacuate his bowels

to clear (a person) of a charge
to free (oneself) of guilt, as by atonementto purge contempt

(intr) to be cleansed or purified

noun

the act or process of purging

the elimination of opponents or dissidents from a state, political party, etc

a purgative drug or agent; cathartic

Derived forms of purge

purger, noun

Word Origin for purge

C14: from Old French purger, from Latin pūrgāre to purify

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for purge

purge

[ pûrj ]

v.

To cause evacuation of the bowels.

n.

The act or process of purging.

Something that purges, especially a medicinal purgative.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WORD OF THE DAY

purge

verb (used with object), purged, purg·ing.

verb (used without object), purged, purg·ing.

noun

SYNONYMS FOR purge

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of purge

OTHER WORDS FROM purge

Example sentences from the Web for purge

British Dictionary definitions for purge

verb

noun

Derived forms of purge

Word Origin for purge

Medical definitions for purge

v.

n.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

purge

verb (used with object), purged, purg·ing.

verb (used without object), purged, purg·ing.

noun

SYNONYMS FOR purge

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

Origin of purge

OTHER WORDS FROM purge

Words related to purge

Example sentences from the Web for purge

British Dictionary definitions for purge

verb

noun

Derived forms of purge

Word Origin for purge

Medical definitions for purge

v.

n.