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Glite Dictionary
cleansing agent

cleansing agent

3.4
A liquid or powder that you use to clean skin, objects, and surfaces
  • noun
  • /ˈklɛnzɪŋ ˈeɪdʒənt/
translation icon : agente limpiador
  • Before applying makeup, it's important to use a good cleansing agent to remove any impurities from your skin.

Examples

  • Many skincare routines include a cleansing agent to ensure that the skin feels fresh and clean.

  • What they did find was chemicals, cleansing agents.

    Cleaner (2007)

  • "Ah, cleansing agents."

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Choices for cleansing agents generally include hydrogen peroxide, saline, soap and water, or nothing.

    Academic text (2005)

  • This pilot study was designed to explore differences in infection/reaction rates among seven different pin-care protocols that varied the cleansing agent and dressing type used.

    Academic text (2005)

  • In addition, there are commonly ascribed attributes of water: universal element, mediator between earth and air, ongoing and discernible cyclic process, origin and sustainer of life, cleansing agent, unfathomable deep.

    Academic text (2002)

  • A suitable cleansing agent can effectively eliminate dirt and oil from household surfaces.

Synonyms

cleaner
vscleansing agent
108 1.0

A liquid or powder used to clean surfaces

is the broad class of substances used to remove dirt from various items and skin
detergent
vscleansing agent
70 2.7

A liquid or powder that cleans clothes and surfaces

is a more general term that includes many washing and cleaning substances
bleach
vscleansing agent
49 3.3

A strong liquid used to make things white and kill germs

is the general notion of cleaning agents without specifying strong whitening chemicals
disinfectant
vscleansing agent
23 3.1

A substance that kills germs on surfaces to stop infection

includes disinfecting roles but also other cleaning purposes beyond germ removal
cleanser
vscleansing agent
20 3.0

A product used to clean things, especially the skin, for example to wash the face

covers cleaning use on skin as well as on objects and surfaces
remover
vscleansing agent
19 3.0

A product that takes stains, makeup, or old paint off surfaces

is the general group of products whose aim is removing unwanted material
sanitizer
vscleansing agent
  • US
12 2.6

A product that kills germs on hands and surfaces

is broader, including products that remove dirt without necessarily killing germs
sudser
vscleansing agent
6.3

A cleaning product like soap that makes many bubbles in water

focuses on the overall purpose of removing dirt rather than foam production
bathroom cleaner
vscleansing agent
1.0

A liquid or spray that removes dirt and stains from bathroom surfaces

is not limited to one room and applies to many cleaning situations

Antonyms

dirt
95 1.0

Substance that makes things unclean

How Strong

disinfectant
23 3.1
degreaser
1 4.8
detergent
70 2.7
cleansing agent
3.4
to soap
12 1.0
water
  • NSFW
118 9.9

Surface Forms

cleansing agent singular
cleansing agents plural

Morphology

cleansing + agent

The meaning 'a substance used for cleaning' is directly derivable from combining 'cleansing' (having the effect of cleaning) with 'agent' (a thing or substance that produces an effect). This adjective+noun compositional pattern is common and mirrored in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Cleansing agent comes from cleansing meaning 'making clean' and agent meaning 'a helper or doer'. Imagine a little helper such as soap going to work to remove dirt, so the phrase means 'a substance used for cleaning surfaces, objects, or skin'.