cathartic
/kəˈθɑːtɪk
/adjective
1Providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions; causing catharsis: crying is a cathartic release...
- We were witnessing the cathartic expression of raw experience that could be the foundation of a profoundly moving work and perhaps one day it will.
- Perhaps this is why the film is best seen in a crowded theatre, where the infectiousness of cathartic emotion can have full play.
- Gullible by nature, they are easily swayed by catchy slogans and start seeking cathartic relief in communal frenzy.
Synonyms
purgative, purging, purifying, cleansing, cleaning, releasing, relieving, freeing, delivering, exorcising, ridding;
Psychoanalysis abreactive
rare depurative, lustral
2 Medicine Purgative.Participants 50 years and older with an indication for colonoscopy underwent cathartic preparation of the colon before CTC followed by regular colonoscopy....
- The cathartic dose of sorbitol is 20 to 50 grams.
- The third type of intervention is administration of cathartic agents to increase gastrointestinal motility and hasten the expulsion of the toxin.
noun Medicine
A purgative drug.Other laxatives and cathartics are available....
- Mercury is used in the manufacture of skin medicine, dental amalgam, plastics, cathartics, paints, fungicides, cosmetics, and scientific instruments.
- There is no evidence that cathartics reduce absorption or toxicity, however.
Derivatives
cathartically
- There are beautiful quiet passages (including a surprisingly restrained Jaco solo) and tracks that just build and build until they just explode cathartically.
- I at least hope I have convinced you that my mom is a headcase and look forward to cathartically yet necessarily reviewing the insanity of my father next Saturday.
- The secret to a successful relocation is knowing what to honestly expect so you can laugh cathartically when the inevitable bizarre scenarios emerge.
Origin
Early 17th century (in medical use): via late Latin from Greek kathartikos, from katharsis ‘cleansing’ (see catharsis).
- separate (or sort) the wheat from the chaff
- separate school
- separate the men from the boys
- pectineal
- pectinesterase
- pectineus
- pectinibranch
- pectinic acid
- pectinid
- pectiniform
- pectinirhomb
- pectinmethylesterase
- pectinoid
- pectinolytic
- pectinous
- pectolite
- pectolytic
- pectoral
- pectoral cross
- pectoral fin
- pectoral girdle
- pectoralis
- pectoralis major
- pectoralis minor
- pectorally