purgatory
Temporary misery state
Purgatory in Roman Catholic doctrine is an intermediate state after death where souls undergo purification before entering heaven.
The term extends to any place or condition of temporary suffering, misery, or expiation: Waiting at the DMV was absolute purgatory.
Unlike hell, purgatory implies an endpoint—the suffering is finite and purposeful, leading eventually to release or redemption.
Removing dirt or toxins
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- expiationRedress for offense
- lustrationCleansing rite or vetting
- sanctificationMaking someone or something sacred
refinement · catharsis · atonement · washing · fire · flames · suffering · trials
Difficult, painful experience
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- miseryIntense prolonged distress
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
suffering · hardship · struggle · nightmare · hell · torture · anguish · tribulation
State of uncertain waiting
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- interimProvisional in-between phase
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- thresholdPoint of beginning
passage · transition · intermediate · delay · hiatus · stasis · interlude · standstill
Innermost animating essence
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- heavenSky or bliss
- hellUnderworld of suffering
- eternityBoundless temporal existence
limbo · redemption · salvation · damnation · perdition · netherworld · underworld · paradise
Yielding to desire
- sacramentSacred ritual conveying grace
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
- prayerAddress to deity
mass · suffrages · venial sin · mortal sin · satisfaction · catechism · eschatology · plenary
Remorseful state over misdeeds
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- guiltMoral self-reproach
sacrifice · reparation · forgiveness · humility · sorrow · regret · amendment · reform
cleansing
Removing dirt or toxins
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- expiationRedress for offense
- lustrationCleansing rite or vetting
sanctification · refinement · catharsis · atonement · washing · fire · flames · suffering · trials · ordeal
ordeal
Difficult, painful experience
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- miseryIntense prolonged distress
agony · suffering · hardship · struggle · nightmare · hell · torture · anguish · tribulation · waiting room
limbo
State of uncertain waiting
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- interimProvisional in-between phase
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
threshold · passage · transition · intermediate · delay · hiatus · stasis · interlude · standstill · anticipation
soul
Innermost animating essence
eternity · limbo · redemption · salvation · damnation · perdition · netherworld · underworld · paradise · inferno
indulgence
Yielding to desire
- sacramentSacred ritual conveying grace
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
prayer · mass · suffrages · venial sin · mortal sin · satisfaction · catechism · eschatology · plenary
contrition
Remorseful state over misdeeds
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
guilt · sacrifice · reparation · forgiveness · humility · sorrow · regret · amendment · reform · restitution
- medieval churchabbeys, abbey, abbot, abbots, abbess
- other realmsotherworld, netherworld, spirit world, shadow realm, dream realm
- otherworldsotherworld, spirit world, spirit realm, higher plane, beyond
- ZoroastrianismZoroaster, Zarathustra, Zoroastrianism, Amesha Spentas, sacred fire
- CatholicismVatican, cardinals, pope, Holy Communion, popes
- Christian loreAdam, Eve, Adam and Eve, Noah, Satan
purgatoryheaven
Sky or bliss
paradise · eternal bliss · kingdom of heaven · hell · eternal damnation
purgatorybliss
Perfect, serene felicity
blissfulness · happiness · contentment · ecstasy · joy
purgatorypermanence
Quality of lasting indefinitely
finality · eternal rest · eternity · resolution · certainty
- Mount PurgatoryAfterlife's refining summit