Synonyms for cleanse

Most common

clean · purify · purge · wash

All synonyms

Verb

Antonyms

defile, contaminate, begrime

All antonyms of cleanse →

Definitions

1. v. 1

   To free from dirt; to clean, to purify.

Related words

Word family

cleanser

Forms

Past participle

cleansed
e.g. cleansed → cleaned, purified, purged, washed…

Choose the right word

Example sentences

• wash About how many times a month do you wash your car?
• scrub Scrub the sink and try to get rid of those spots.
• purge What's the first thing you'd do if The Purge was real?
• purify Sami wanted to know how to purify himself as a Muslim.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters

wash¹, wipe¹

5 letters

clear¹, clean¹, scrub¹, purge¹, rinse¹, scour²

6 letters

purify³

7 letters

deterge

8 letters

sanctify³, fumigate³, depurate, absterge

9 letters

disinfect³, expurgate

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (scour² = 2 syllables).