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.

But now he wept, and it felt as if the tears were cleansing him, as if his body needed to empty itself.

From "Messenger" by Lois Lowry

These last were men who had been at work all night, and were cleansing themselves before putting on what we may term their home-going clothes.

From Deep Down, a Tale of the Cornish Mines by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)

That were cleansing one stone while the whole house is foul with shame.

From Unknown to History: a story of the captivity of Mary of Scotland by Yonge, Charlotte Mary

Others were cleansing from it the decayed kernels and packing it up in small sacks of whitish undressed leather, resembling parchment.

From Villages of the Algonquian, Siouan, and Caddoan Tribes West of the Mississippi by Bushnell, David Ives

Having sufficiently humbled Paris, he withdrew into the background, rubbing his hands as if he were cleansing them of something unsightly.

From The Husbands of Edith by McCutcheon, George Barr