Synonyms for expurgate
Definitions
- v. 1
To edit out (incorrect, offensive, or otherwise undesirable information) from a book or other publication; to cleanse; to purge.
The publisher decided to expurgate the love scene from the book, to make it more child-friendly.
- v. 2
To undertake editing out incorrect, offensive, or otherwise undesirable information from (a book or other publication); to cleanse; to purge.
The publisher decided to expurgate the book, which meant removing the love scene.
Related words
- Word family
- expurgator expurgatory
Forms
- Past participle
- expurgated
e.g. expurgated → shortened, bowdlerized, castrated, purged…
Example sentences
- shorten High operating temperatures shorten lubricant life.
- castrate Don't castrate kids with puberty blockers.
- purge What's the first thing you'd do if The Purge was real?
- cleanse Fasting helps the body cleanse and repair itself.
- censor Do not censor me, I am free to express my opinions.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| expurgate | steady | |
| shorten | steady | |
| castrate | steady | |
| bowdlerize | steady | |
| purge | steady | |
| cleanse | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- purge1
- 6 letters
- censor2, purify3, winnow2
- 7 letters
- cleanse1, shorten2
- 8 letters
- castrate2
- 10 letters
- bowdlerize, bowdlerise
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (censor2 = 2 syllables).