Exorcise

//ˈɛk.sɔɹˌsaɪz// verb

verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To drive out (an evil spirit) from a person, place or thing, especially by an incantation or prayer. transitive

    "The priest attempted to exorcise the evil spirit from the house."

  2. 2
    expel through adjuration or prayers wordnet
  3. 3
    To rid (a person, place or thing) of an evil spirit. transitive

    "They hired a specialist to exorcise the haunted object."

Synonyms

All synonyms
exorcizelay

Example

More examples

"We exorcise you, every unclean spirit, every satanic power, every incursion of the infernal adversary, every legion, every congregation and diabolical sect."

Etymology

From Middle English exorcisen, exorzisen, from Medieval Latin exorcizō, from Ancient Greek ἐξορκίζω (exorkízō, “to banish an evil spirit; bind by oath”), from ἐξ (ex) + ὅρκος (hórkos). Compare Old French exorciser.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.