PURGE Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

purge

verb

ˈpərj

Definition of purge

as in to restore

to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially a day on which the faithful are expected to purge themselves of their sins through prayer and fasting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 purge Parcells began that rebuild by purging the roster, releasing nine veterans, which included Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas, all at once. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026 Now, Xi remains in office after purging political rivals, abolishing presidential term limits and consolidating power. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 Since 2022, according to data compiled by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the party has formally purged three dozen generals and lieutenant generals, and many more are conspicuously missing. — Andrew Mertha, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026 The top 10 percent of the entire military chain of command has been purged. — CBS News, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for purge

Recent Examples of Synonyms for purge

Verb

Full service was being restored at the end of last week, but Zelenskyy said Monday that the restrictions are still slowing Ukraine's drones along the front.

— SAMYA KULLAB, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Since then, Netanyahu has been criticized by opponents for failing to deliver on his promise of restoring regional security.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of restore

Verb

In fact, conditioner helps restore your hair after cleansing.

— Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 10 Oct. 2026
The Bonding Shampoo gently cleanses hair and scalp, while the Hair Bonding Treatment delivers a more intensive dose of the brand’s Peptide-132 complex to help strengthen damaged strands and minimize breakage and split ends.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of cleanse

Verb

Large ovens are then used to dry the electrodes, followed by additional processes to recover and purify the solvents.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
Below, take a peek at the best still-available Dyson Prime Day deals, ranging from cordless stick vacuums to purifying tower fans.

— Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of purify

Verb

For Wilder residents, the La Catedral raid remains an open wound that refuses to heal.

— Philip Wang, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
Carson draws parallels between the familial traumas of those who remain and the broader societal wounds of a province still healing from decades of sectarian violence.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of heal

Browse Nearby Words

purgatory

purge

purged

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of purge

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