to purge

Examples

• All

• But in his attempt to purge the past, he had found help.

  Fiction book (1993)

• They want me to purge myself.

  Guilty by Suspicion (1991)

• Yes, we must go to that funeral and purge ourselves of all this guilt.

  The Birth of a Nation (1915)

• So he's going to purge them, free them from all evil.

  Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

• - You will purge from yourself the guilt of shedding innocent blood.

  Hellraiser: Judgment (2018)

• Aristotle said that tragedy and horror allow us to express negative emotions and purge ourselves of them.

• Each alleged plot had to be "purged" and the perpetrators arrested.

  Academic text (1998)

• I pledge to you tonight from this office that I will do everything in my power to ensure that the guilty are brought to justice and that such abuses are purged from our political processes, in the years to come long after I have left this office.

  Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1994)

• The lawyer worked diligently to purge her client of any wrongdoing during the trial.

• After years of guilt, he felt ready to purge himself of shame and seek forgiveness.

Synonyms

R

to rid of

vsto purge

∞ 3.0

To free someone from something harmful or unwanted

focuses specifically on clearing guilt, blame, accusation, or sin rather than general removal

E

to exonerate

vsto purge

• Formal

129 8.2

To say officially that someone is not guilty of a crime

also covers nonlegal moral clearing of guilt or sin

C

to cleanse

vsto purge

• Formal

73 4.8

Make a person or place free from unwanted feelings such as guilt

is more narrowly about clearing blame or accusation in legal or moral contexts

A

to absolve

vsto purge

• Formal

50 7.2

Make someone officially free from blame, guilt, or responsibility

covers broader clearing of blame in legal or moral situations

P

to purify

vsto purge

• Formal

28 5.1

To make someone feel morally clean and free from guilt

focuses more on legal or moral clearing rather than spiritual purification

D

to discharge

vsto purge

• Formal

5 7.2

Officially say that someone is not guilty of a crime

applies to clearing blame or sin beyond criminal charges

W

to wash oneself of

vsto purge

4 7.7

To get rid of feelings like guilt or blame

is more formal and often involves external legal or moral actions

U

to untaint

vsto purge

1 8.1

To remove blame or suspicion so someone looks trusted again

clears guilt or blame but may not restore reputation or remove suspicion

D

to destigmatize

vsto purge

1 7.5

Make people not feel ashamed of something

clears legal or moral blame rather than only removing social shame

Compounds

B

binge-purge syndrome

• Specialized

7.4

A serious eating problem where people eat large amounts then make themselves throw up or fast to avoid weight gain

How Cleared

to exonerate

• Formal

129 8.2

to purge

30 7.0

to absolve

• Formal

50 7.2

to acquit

28 7.4

to vindicate

54 8.6

clear

257 3.8

Surface Forms

Etymology