purify

verb

ˈpyu̇r-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce purify (audio)
Definition of purifynext
1
as in to purge
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially Catholics go to confession to be purified

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to filter
to remove usually visible impurities from purify the water by distillation

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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 purify But what if the water and nutrients could be purified from whey permeate and used for other purposes? — Idaho Statesman, 17 Aug. 2026 Once hydrogen is flowing from the ground, how will the gas be purified? — IEEE Spectrum, 11 Aug. 2026 Normal strategy in disaster situations is boiling water to purify it but this uses valuable fuel resources. — Simon Heptinstall, New Atlas, 9 July 2026 And here, the researchers simply purified the translation machinery and supplied it to the SpudCells. — ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for purify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purify
  1. purge
  2. filter
  3. clarify
  4. refine
  5. extract
  6. clean
Verb
  • Similar to purging in home organizing, Keen says to look for images that spark joy, like Marie Kondo-style decluttering.
    — Staff Author, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Black and female military officers have been purged or denied promotion.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of purge
Verb
  • The instruments can move with greater flexibility than the human hand, while the system filters out natural hand tremors that could affect delicate movements.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The set list spans her 14-year career, with even the most pop-forward selections filtered through thunderous percussion and earsplitting guitars.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of filter
Verb
  • In a statement, an Axel Springer spokesperson clarified that The Circuit was technically incorporated in the US, with staff located around the world.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Pabst also originally posted that a truck was stolen, though company officials later clarified no vehicle went missing.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of clarify
Verb
  • The same is true of thoughtful case studies, difficult decisions explained transparently, lessons learned from failures, long-term client relationships or years spent refining a particular expertise.
    — Matteo Pittaluga, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • According to the Lagerfeld company, the voice is synthetically generated specifically for the character, but based on a two-hour recording by a voice-over artist that was later refined by machines and humans.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of refine
Verb
  • Huge investments are needed to extract the rich resources in Venezuela, whose oil output remains at a fraction of its capacity due to decades of mismanagement, lack of investment and sanctions.
    — Anniek Bao,Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Hyosung’s Bio-BDO is manufactured by fermenting sugars extracted from sugarcane.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of extract
Verb
  • Hand soap is meant for clearing surface dirt, cleaning expert Andy Wray says.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Whole cobs of corn are cleaned of their silk, tucked back into their husks, and placed on the grill to char.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of clean

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purifies
purify
purifying
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Cite this Entry

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

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