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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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 purify Puerto Rico’s governor had declared a state of emergency in late July because of the persistent dry conditions and activated the National Guard to transport, distribute, and purify water. — Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The heavy snows purify the air and insulate the food warehouses, locking in the high humidity and stable chill necessary to nurture delicate winter koji and yeast strains without catastrophic temperature spikes. — Adam H. Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2026 Pure Copper Charm, which comes in two adorable shapes, a heart or star, is a natural antimicrobial and releases purifying trace copper ions into vase water. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2026 But what if the water and nutrients could be purified from whey permeate and used for other purposes? — Idaho Statesman, 17 Aug. 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
  • Wikipedia has failed to purge antisemitic and anti-Israel propaganda pushed by bad-actor editors, the Anti-Defamation League warns.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of bingeing followed by purging.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of purge
Verb
  • Those searches risk filtering out the candidates most likely to bring a perspective your bank lacks.
    — Paul Davis, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Director Dustin Rikert worked efficiently, filming several takes of attendees filtering into the auction.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of filter
Verb
  • Mayer also clarified that a new single is definitely coming this year.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The court wants the parties to clarify the impact of DeWine’s executive order on the case.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of clarify
Verb
  • The team revised Rotta’s face and coloring to bring him closer to Jabba while refining his muscular physique.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • If desired, Meyer lemons can also be pruned in late winter to early spring to refine their shrubby look into a more tree-like appearance.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of refine
Verb
  • Doctors can use catheters to enter blood vessels in the lungs and dissolve or extract the clots.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Heavy drones offer the advantages of speedy evacuation and potentially greater survivability for wounded soldiers, along with likely representing the only realistic option for extracting soldiers from dangerous frontline positions.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of extract
Verb
  • Combs paid inmates to clean and cook special meals for him, including curry chicken, pizza and empanadas, and that the hip-hop artist also received Chinese-style massages, four sources told NBC News.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • My mom enrolled as a junior at Hollywood High School and took care of the house—cleaning, reheating frozen chicken pot pies, and making sure everyone did their homework.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of clean

Browse Nearby Words

purifies
purify
purifying
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Purify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purify. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of vocation

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

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
See More

Popular

See More

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
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All