purgative
Intestinal clearing agent
Purgative describes something that cleanses or purifies, especially by causing evacuation of the bowels.
As a noun, a purgative is a strong laxative: The doctor prescribed a purgative before the procedure.
Figuratively, purgative applies to anything that purges unwanted elements: a purgative confession, the purgative effect of finally telling the truth.
Emotionally releasing, relieving
- aperientMild bowel-loosening agent
- evacuantAgent causing evacuation
- sennaCathartic-yielding shrub
- castor oilPressed bean purgative
dulcolax · lactulose · docusate · magnesium citrate · milk of magnesia · polyethylene glycol · mineral oil · stool softener
Remove dirt or sin
- detoxifyRemove poisonous substances
- flushSame suit, five cards
- expungeDelete entirely, officially
- eliminateRemove completely
eradicate · rid · clear out · empty · evacuate · void · drain · expel
Purification through emotional expression
- releaseTo let go
- unburdeningRelieving oneself of weight
- reliefEasing of distress
- ventingReleasing emotion verbally
liberation · expulsion · letting go · cleansing · outpouring · discharge · abreaction · breakthrough
cathartic
Emotionally releasing, relieving
castor oil · dulcolax · lactulose · docusate · magnesium citrate · milk of magnesia · polyethylene glycol · mineral oil · stool softener · colonic
cleanse
Remove dirt or sin
eliminate · eradicate · rid · clear out · empty · evacuate · void · drain · expel · discharge
catharsis
Purification through emotional expression
- releaseTo let go
- unburdeningRelieving oneself of weight
- reliefEasing of distress
venting · liberation · expulsion · letting go · cleansing · outpouring · discharge · abreaction · breakthrough · confession
sanctify
Make officially holy
cleanse · atone · shrive · baptize · consecrate · confess · penance · ablution · ritual cleansing · repentance
- ancient medicinephysicians, healers, Hippocratic Oath, Hippocratic oath, four humors
- laxativeslaxative, laxatives, stool softener, stool softeners, cathartic
- old remediescalomel, laudanum, tartar emetic, nostrum, patent medicines
- Old-Fashioned Medicineague, apoplexy, consumption, dropsy, grippe
- cleanerscleaner, cleaners, maids, maid, detergent
- bodily wastefeces, excrement, urine, poop, pee
purgativeconstipating
Causing difficult bowel movements
binding · costive · astringent · antidiarrheal · styptic
- drastic purgativeStrong bowel-emptying medicine