purgative

noun

Definition of purgativenext
as in drug
a substance used to induce or speed up the process of defecation In the past, purgatives were sometimes administered in cases of accidental poisoning.

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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 purgative 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 Blackshirts forced their opponents to drink castor oil and other purgatives, and then sent them home, wrenching with pain and covered in their own feces. — Michael Ebner, Slate Magazine, 30 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purgative
  1. drug
  2. remedy
Noun
  • One of the first focuses under the new corporate structure will be addressing cancer drug affordability, Shah said, with a goal of accelerating the adoption of lower-cost biosimilars, which are clinically equivalent drugs akin to generic drugs.
    — Ian Thomas, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Scott’s narrator, Louise, is a musician of sorts, a frequent drug user, and a desperate diehard romantic, forever dogged by her ex-girlfriend Alex.
    — Robert Rubsam, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of drug
Noun
  • In a simple order published Wednesday, the judge accepted behavior remedies and rejected a divestiture.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
  • At a trial last year on remedies in the case, the DOJ argued that Google cannot be trusted to run AdX, given its past behavior.
    — Jody Godoy, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of remedy

Browse Nearby Words

pureness
purgative
purgatives
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Cite this Entry

“Purgative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purgative. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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