Cleanse me! Release me! Set me free!
Source: tatoeba (25487)
Cleanse
/klɛnz/
Synonyms for "cleanse" (177 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (36)
Noun(9 words)
Strong matches (53)
Related words (88)
Verb(19 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: ablution, baptize, bathe, bathed, bathes.
- Sentence evidence is available for cleanse, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "cleanse".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "cleanse"
Keep "cleanse" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "cleanse" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "cleanse", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "cleanse" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
12 entriesMore specific
14 entriesablution ceremonyatonementchemical cleansingdecontaminationdisinfectdisinfectionimputationmechanical cleansingoutlier removalpurificationrinseritual washingscrubwash
Collocations
11 entriescleanse protocolcleansing agentcleansing procedurecleansing processdata cleansedata cleansingmoral cleansingnasal cleanseskin cleansesurface cleansingwound cleanse
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
5 entriesTranslations
42 translations across 23 languages.
Ancient Greek
3 entries- καθαίρω verb (to clean, purify)
- καθαρίζω verb (to clean, purify)
- ἁγνίζω verb (to clean, purify)
Breton
1 entries- glanaat verb (to clean, purify)
Bulgarian
2 entries- изчиствам verb (to clean, purify)
- почиствам verb (to clean, purify)
Chinese
1 entries- 清洗 verb (to clean, purify)
Czech
3 entries- očistit verb (to clean, purify)
- očistit se verb (to clean, purify)
- pročistit verb (to clean, purify)
Dutch
2 entries- reinigen verb (to clean, purify)
- schoonmaken verb (to clean, purify)
Finnish
1 entries- puhdistaa verb (to clean, purify)
German
2 entries- reinigen verb (to clean, purify)
- säubern verb (to clean, purify)
Gothic
1 entries- 𐌷𐍂𐌰𐌹𐌽𐌾𐌰𐌽 verb (to clean, purify)
Hebrew
1 entries- איבק verb (to clean, purify)
Italian
4 entries- detergere verb (to clean, purify)
- pulire verb (to clean, purify)
- purificare verb (to clean, purify)
- ripulire verb (to clean, purify)
Japanese
2 entries- 浄化する verb (to clean, purify)
- 清める verb (to clean, purify)
Korean
1 entries- 씻다 verb (to clean, purify)
Latin
3 entries- abluō verb (to clean, purify)
- luo verb (to clean, purify)
- mundo verb (to clean, purify)
Old English
2 entries- clǣnsian verb (to clean, purify)
- fǣlsian verb (to clean, purify)
Ottoman Turkish
1 entries- طهارتلنمك verb (to clean, purify)
Polish
1 entries- oczyścić verb (to clean, purify)
Portuguese
1 entries- limpar verb (to clean, purify)
Russian
1 entries- очищать verb (to clean, purify)
Sanskrit
2 entries- क्षिपति verb (to clean, purify)
- पवयति verb (to clean, purify)
Spanish
4 entries- acendrar verb (to clean, purify)
- acrisolar verb (to clean, purify)
- aquilatar verb (to clean, purify)
- cendrar verb (to clean, purify)
Thai
2 entries- ชำระ verb (to clean, purify)
- ล้าง verb (to clean, purify)
Turkish
1 entries- temizlemek verb (to clean, purify)
Sample sentences
13 total sentences available.
That red cloth is a "fukusa"; it is a vital tool used to cleanse the tea equipment.
Source: tatoeba (326821)
The Europeans hired an exorcist to cleanse their continent of demons.
Source: tatoeba (4022390)
They found no hurt or blood upon him, but there was a quantity of mud and dirt about his hair and indeed his whole person, and he thought it would be best to cleanse himself.
Source: tatoeba (6212398)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "cleanse"?
Closest matches include ablution, baptize, bathe, bathed, bathes.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "cleanse"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.