'Cathartic' definitions:
Definition of 'cathartic'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Emotionally purging [syn: cathartic, psychotherapeutic]
adjective
Emotionally purging (of e.g. art) [syn: cathartic, releasing]
adjective
noun
Definition of 'Cathartic'
From: GCIDE
- Cathartic \Ca*thar"tic\, Catharical \Ca*thar"ic*al\, a. [Gr. ?, fr. ? to cleanse, fr. ? pure; akin to F. chaste.]
- 1. (Med.) Cleansing the bowels; promoting evacuations by stool; purgative. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Of or pertaining to the purgative principle of senna, as cathartic acid. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Cathartic'
From: GCIDE
- Cathartic \Ca*thar"tic\, n. [Gr. ?.] (Med.) A medicine that promotes alvine discharges; a purge; a purgative of moderate activity. [1913 Webster]
- Note: The cathartics are more energetic and certain in action that the laxatives, which simply increase the tendency to alvine evacuation; and less powerful and irritaint that the drastic purges, which cause profuse, repeated, and watery evacuations. -- {Ca*thar"tic*al*ly}, adv. -- {Ca*thar"tic*al*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'cathartic'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abstergent,
- alleviating,
- alleviative,
- analgesic,
- anesthetic,
- anodyne,
- aperient,
- assuasive,
- balmy,
- balsamic,
- benumbing,
- carminative,
- cleaner,
- cleaning,
- cleaning agent,
- cleaning solvent,
- cleanser,
- cleansing,
- cleansing cream,
- cold cream,
- cream,
- deadening,
- demulcent,
- dentifrice,
- depurant,
- depurative,
- detergent,
- diuretic,
- dulling,
- easing,
- emetic,
- emollient,
- enema,
- expurgatory,
- holystone,
- laxative,
- lenitive,
- lotion,
- lustral,
- mitigating,
- mitigative,
- mouthwash,
- nauseant,
- numbing,
- pain-killing,
- palliative,
- physic,
- pumice stone,
- purgative,
- purge,
- purging,
- purificatory,
- purifier,
- purifying,
- relieving,
- remedial,
- rinse,
- shampoo,
- soap,
- softening,
- solvent,
- soothing,
- subduing,
- synthetic detergent,
- tooth powder,
- toothpaste,
- wash