CLEANSING Synonyms: 132 Similar and Opposite Words

cleansing 1 of 3

noun

as in purification

the act or fact of freeing from sin or moral guilt underwent a cleansing before he could enter the temple's most sacred chamber

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cleansing

2 of 3

adjective

as in purifying

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

cleansing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of cleanse

as in purging

to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially in an elaborate ritual the priestess cleansed the gathering of supplicants

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cleaning

to remove the dirt from cleanse the wound with soap and water before applying the bandage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 cleansing

Noun

Finish Skin Prep With a Toner or Essence After cleansing, a toning step can remove any leftover impurities from the pores and balance the skin’s pH level, while essences—which have a slightly thicker texture—tend to be more hydrating. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026 Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil Have cleansing oils left your skin feeling coated in a greasy film? — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026 An unholy relaxation trifecta, the treatment advertises a gentle cleansing scrub, a head and neck massage dribbled in therapeutic oils, and a custom mask infused with calming plant extracts. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 Written instructions for cleansing, sun avoidance, sunscreen use, exercise, swimming, and restarting active skin-care products. — Malana Vantyler, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 East of Eden is a tome obsessed with guilt, sin, ambition, race, the land as healing and capitalism as putrefying, the nature of fate and the question of free will, and the role money and inheritance play in either our corruption or our cleansing. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026 That philosophy is reflected in Moore’s five-minute morning routine, which consists of cleansing, moisturizing and reaching for tinted sunscreen. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026 Palate-cleansing, complex, but also leaving an urge for a more primal satisfaction. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026 Their number one best selling Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm transforms into three unique textures for the ultimate cleansing experience. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Adjective

The in-shower treatment is meant to be used post-cleansing; simply massage it into wet hair and rinse it out two-to-three times a week. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 24 June 2026 To use the bestseller, distribute three pumps over the face and neck daily, post-cleansing, and start savoring its impressive effects after a couple of months of consistent application. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 26 Dec. 2025 Mario Badescu’s no-frills formula refines pores and soothes skin post-cleansing with witch hazel and rose water. — Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 18 Nov. 2025 Exploring divine Love’s infinite nature is so cleansing. — Mark Swinney, Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2025

Verb

In fact, conditioner helps restore your hair after cleansing. — Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 10 Oct. 2026 The Diocletian Ritual, comprising a salt scrub, cleansing mud wrap, and massage, is both invigorating and restorative. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 A lot along Colorado Boulevard may go from cleansing sins to cleansing Subarus, although some nearby residents hope to stop it. — Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2026 Head spas are credited with cleansing the scalp, stimulating blood flow, strengthening hair follicles and lowering stress and anxiety. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Kansas’ Union soldiers, who were known as Jayhawkers, responded by cleansing three Missouri counties along the border and stacking a similar number of dead bodies in retaliation. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 The Joico HydraSplash Hydrating Shampoo swaps the usual suspects for keratin (a protective protein) and natural hydrators like coconut water and sea kelp to replenish dry hair while thoroughly cleansing it. — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 5 Sep. 2026 It’s also packed with a slew of cleansing agents that are known for effectively sloughing away gunk while being gentle enough not to damage the skin barrier. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026 Sulfates are cleansing agents that attract oil, product buildup, and dirt. — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleansing

Noun

Oklo plans to use the Groves-2 Forge facility to gather operating data and refine its purification methods.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Estes said the aqueduct's water was used for both practical and religious purposes, including cleaning up after sacrifices and performing purification rituals at the Temple Mount.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of purification

Adjective

Perhaps the most moving moment of the finale is the last between John and Hal (or, more accurately, the Hal-o-gram).

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2026
Perhaps the most moving moment of Don’t Look Back in Anger arrives early with the first of the reunion concerts in Cardiff, Wales.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of moving

Adjective

That Langley’s song has resonated to this extent without hardly any remixes or chart-boosting gimmicks makes the classic-meets-contemporary song all the more impressive.

— Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2026
Flaco the owl became a celebrity Central Park resident, with breathless news coverage of Flaco’s impressive self-preservation skills and, eventually, mournful obituaries when Flaco died after flying into a building.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of impressive

Adjective

The breakthrough was to make Bonnie’s loneliness the emotional engine.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Building an international band that includes Eiko Ishibashi, Jim O’Rourke, and a whistler, the Australian guitarist shapes longform spells of emotional and musical ambiguity.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of emotional

Browse Nearby Words

cleans house

cleansing

cleans (off)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cleansing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleansing. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of cleansing

noun

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes