cathartic

[ kuh-thahr-tik ]
See synonyms for cathartic on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. of or relating to catharsis.

  2. Also cathartical. evacuating the bowels; purgative.

noun
  1. a purgative.

Origin of cathartic

1
First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin catharticus, from Greek kathartikós “fit for cleansing”; see catharsis, -tic

Other words for cathartic

Other words from cathartic

  • ca·thar·ti·cal·ly, adverb
  • ca·thar·ti·cal·ness, noun
  • hy·per·ca·thar·tic, adjective
  • non·ca·thar·tic, adjective, noun
  • non·ca·thar·ti·cal, adjective
  • sem·i·ca·thar·tic, adjective
  • un·ca·thar·tic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for cathartic

cathartic

/ (kəˈθɑːtɪk) /


adjective
  1. purgative

  2. effecting catharsis

noun
  1. a purgative drug or agent

Derived forms of cathartic

  • cathartically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012