CATHARTIC Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

cathartic 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of cathartic

as in excitable

bringing about a relief from strong emotions usually by expressing them It was very cathartic to finally tell my childhood bully exactly what I thought of him.

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cathartic

2 of 2

noun

as in drug

a substance used to induce or speed up the process of defecation Epsom salts, when ingested, act as a cathartic.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of cathartic

Adjective

To Morrison, as well as to the filmmakers, this awful backstory makes something cathartic of his accomplishment. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 But this year’s Mile also ended up being a cathartic experience for attendees. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026 Ross’ music eschews the cathartic function of a lot of classic heartland rock, maybe because his lyric-writing is fairly literary and terse. — Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2026 In a time of increasingly frictionless digital consumption, there’s something cathartic about the raw experience of guitar music, as compared with the precise beats of electronic music. — Michelle Bruton, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cathartic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cathartic

Adjective

Kalind, the younger brother of a bonobo named Kevin, was the more excitable and playful of the two.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026
Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, Deanna is a proud mother of three and an excitable introvert.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of excitable

Noun

Ramsey is one of TV’s hottest actors right now, with previous roles including the fiery Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones, survivalist Ellie in The Last of Us and drug addict Kelsey in Time.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
In bidding to halt Howard's execution, his attorneys had filed a motion hours earlier before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals raising concerns about the quality of Texas' execution drugs.

— JAMIE STENGLE, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of drug

Adjective

Mercury in your 8th House quincunxes Saturn in your sign, bringing private concerns, trust, money, or emotional expectations up against your personal limits.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026
Combining comedy and emotional depth with neurodiversity representation at its core, the film, which reached over 4 million viewers on its release on ARD, is an uplifting story of family, second chances and connection.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of emotional

Noun

Sales of purgatives, tonics, syrups and patent medicines like Carter’s Little Liver Pills went through the roof as ordinary people were encouraged to closely monitor the frequency and quality of their bowel movements.

— Elsa Richardson, TIME, 3 Oct. 2024
The persistent and sickening violence of Detroit could work as a powerful purgative, a corrective medicine for deprogramming those who doubt the reality of police brutality.

— Josephine Livingstone, New Republic, 8 Aug. 2017

Definition of purgative

Adjective

Reminiscent in some ways of Sidney Lumet’s landmark first feature, 12 Angry Men, McCarthy finds an exciting way to shoot this tight room without ever being rote.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2026
Nothing terribly exciting is happening inside this three-bedroom, but there’s lots of light and a respectable amount of space, and the beach is just a few minutes away.

— Nora Deligter, Curbed, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of exciting

Noun

These medications include blood thinner, insulin, chemotherapy drugs, and opioid pain medication.

— Esha Desai, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
That means doctors don’t have a definitive answer for families when asked how long their child might need to stay on the medications, or what the long-term effects might be.

— Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of medication

Noun

The international community’s ability to manage safe travel and secure banking, communications and quality standards for food, water, and medicine could all be compromised, too.

— Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Boehringer has pitched the medicine as a way to help patients lose fat while preserving muscle, but without an edge, the drug becomes just one more contender in an increasingly crowded market dominated by Eli Lilly and Novo.

— Ed Silverman, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of medicine

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Style

“Cathartic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cathartic. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cathartic

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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