catharsis

noun

ca·​thar·​sis kə-ˈthär-səs How to pronounce catharsis (audio)
plural catharses kə-ˈthär-ˌsēz How to pronounce catharsis (audio)
1
a
: purification or purgation of the emotions (such as pity and fear) primarily through art
b
: a purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension
2
: elimination of a complex by bringing it to consciousness and affording it expression
3
: purgation

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Word History of Catharsis and Cathartic

Catharsis and cathartic both trace to the Greek word kathairein, meaning “to cleanse, purge.” Catharsis entered English as a medical term having to do with purging the body—and especially the bowels—of unwanted material. The adjective cathartic entered English with a meaning descriptive of such a physically cleansing purge. It didn’t take long for people to start using these words figuratively in reference to emotional release and spiritual cleansing.

Examples of catharsis in a Sentence

She has learned to have her catharsis, take a deep breath and move on.  … she does not dwell on the negative anymore. —Selena Roberts, New York Times, 24 June 2001
… malevolence is expressed in his decision to absent himself from the courtroom, thereby denying some victims of his torture the catharsis of compelling him to hear their stories of survival. —George F. Will, Newsweek, 25 May 1987
… there's the need for catharsis. If you play it all back a second time, you may wear away some of the pain, as you wear away a record with replaying. —Anatole Broyard, New York Times Book Review, 14 Nov. 1982
As soon as we emerged from the gates of the White House, I became aware of that sea of faces.  … I wanted to cry for them and with them, but it was impossible to permit the catharsis of tears. —Lady Bird Johnson 24 Nov. 1963, in A White House Diary,  1970
Acting is a means of catharsis for her. Painting is a catharsis for me.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Anchored by a surprisingly poignant motion-capture performance from Josh Brolin, the film, for the most part, pulls off the tricky balance of delivering sensational sequences and a catharsis that grounds the unimaginable stakes. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026 Schwarber scored twice Sunday while Harper and Marsh added a run apiece, triggering a catharsis through a Citizens Bank Park that had grown agitated (and filled with opposing fans) throughout the week. — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 27 July 2026 The catharsis of moments like this—and the unpredictability with which they’re deployed—endows Oen Sujet’s music with delight worth chasing, but the climb doesn’t always feel equal to the drop. — Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 24 July 2026 Maybe a better word than therapy would have been self-interrogation, because the realization about Gabriella feels like catharsis. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for catharsis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek katharsis, from kathairein to cleanse, purge, from katharos

First Known Use

circa 1775, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of catharsis was circa 1775

Rhymes for catharsis

See All Rhymes for catharsis

Browse Nearby Words

Catharist
catharsis
Cathartae
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Cite this Entry

“Catharsis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catharsis. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

catharsis

noun
ca·​thar·​sis kə-ˈthär-səs How to pronounce catharsis (audio)
formal
: the act or process of relieving a strong emotion (as pity or fear) especially by expressing it in art form
cathartic
-ˈthärt-ik
adjective

Medical Definition

catharsis

noun
ca·​thar·​sis
variants also katharsis
kə-ˈthär-səs How to pronounce catharsis (audio)
plural catharses also katharses -ˌsēz How to pronounce catharsis (audio)
1
: purgation
2
: elimination of a complex by bringing it to consciousness and affording it expression compare abreaction

More from Merriam-Webster on catharsis

Nglish: Translation of catharsis for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catharsis

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