One student says the purge is still going on in China and terror is widespread.
Source: tatoeba (21407)
Purge
/pɜːd͡ʒ/
Synonyms for "purge" (510 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (102)
abolishmentabolitionabsolveabstergentabstersionabstractaccount foracquitamnestyannihilateannihilationannulmentaperientassassinateassassinationbandagebathebereave of lifebleachbloody flux
Show 61 more words
bloody murderblowblow outbmbowdlerizationbowdlerizebowel movementbreakbumping-offbustcare forcarminativecarry awaycarry offcashiercashieringcast offcast outcatharsiscatharticcensorchloroformchokingchoking offchuckcleanclean outclean upcleanercleaningcleaning agentcleaning solventcleansecleanse awaycleansercleansingcleansing creamclearclear awayclear offclear outclear the decksclearancecold creamcrapcreamcry sour grapescurecut downcut offcut outdebardeconsecratedeconsecrationdecontaminatedefecatedefecationdefenestrationdefrockdefrockingdejection
Noun(12 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (153)
Verb(22 words)
delete recorddeleteddeletesdestroy datadestroy documentsdetoxifieddiscard progressdisgorgeerasederases progressevictevictingevictsexcretingexorcisesexorcizeexorcizedexpungedexpurgatedexpurgates
Show 2 more words
Noun(18 words)
delete statementdeletiondrinking water purificationeliminateeliminatingeliminationemptyingerase energy dataerasureexorcisingexorcismexorcismsexorcizingexpelexpulsionexpungingfanweedflushes
deliverdeliverancedelousedentifricedepletedeportdeportationdeposaldeposedepositiondeprivationdeprive of lifedepurantdepuratederacinatederacinationdestigmatizedestroydetachmentdeterge
Show 92 more words
detergentdetersiondethronedethronementdiagnosediarrheadisabusedisbardisbarmentdisbarringdiscarddischargediscrowndiscrownmentdisenthronedisenthronementdisjunctiondismissdismissaldispatchdispeldispense fromdisplacedisplacementdisposaldispose ofdispositiondiureticdo away withdo fordo justice todo to deathdoctordraindressdrum outdry cleandry cleaningdry-cleandustdust offdysenteryejectejectionelideeliminateeliminationemeticemotional releaseemptyempty outendenemaeradicateeradicationeraseevacuateevacuationexcludeexcommunicateexcommunicationexculpateexcuseexecuteexemptexempt fromexhaustexileexonerateexpatriateexpatriationexpelexplainexpulsionexpungeexpurgateexpurgationexterminateexterminationextinctionextinguishmentextirpateextirpationfinishfinish offfiringfling offfluxforced resignationforgivefoul playfree
Adjective(1 words)
empty void
Related words (255)
free fromfreeingfreshenget quit ofget rid ofget shut ofgive absolutiongive care togive releasegive respitegive the gategrant amnesty togrant immunitygrant remissionhealholystonehomicideimmolateimpeachmentintermission
Show 184 more words
intermitjustifykick upstairskicking upstairskillkillinglaunch into eternitylaxativelet golet offlienteryliquidateliquidationloose bowelslotionlustratelustrationlynchmake away withmanslaughtermartyrmartyrizemassageminister tomouthwashmovementmurdernauseantnegationnip in the budnonprosnullificationnurseoperate onostracismoustousteroustingoutlawoutlawingoutlawryoverthrowoverthrowalpardonpensionpension offpensioning offphysicpick outplasterpoisonpoulticepoundpumice stonepurgationpurgativepurge awaypurgingpurificationpurifierpurifyput awayput downput to deathput to sleepquash the chargerationalizeread out ofreformrehabilitatereinstatereleaseremedyremitremovalremoveremove from liferemove from officereprieveresolverespiterestoreretireretirementridriddancerinseroot outroot uprooting outrout outrubrunssacrificescavengescour outset freeseveranceshake offshake upshampooshitshitsshooshriveshut outsilencingslaughterslaysnuffing outsoapsolventsplintsprucestarvesteam cleaningsteam-cleanstiflingstoolstrangulationstrapstrike offstrike outstrip of officestrip of ranksuffocationsuperannuatesuperannuationsuppressionsurceasesuspendsuspensionsweepsweep awaysweep outsweetensynthetic detergenttake lifetake offthrow awaythrow offthrow overthrow overboardthuggeethuggerythuggismtidytoleratetooth powdertoothpastetreattrotsturistasunchurchunchurchinguncloguncrownundeceiveunfoulunfrockunfrockingunsaddleunseatunseatingunthroneuprootuprootingventvindicatevoidvoidancevoidingwarrantwashwash outweed outwhitenwhitewashwipewipe offwipe outwipe upwithdraw the chargewithdrawal
Verb(28 words)
Noun(22 words)
Adjective(1 words)
physical deletion
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abolishment, abolition, absolve, abstergent, abstersion.
- Sentence evidence is available for purge, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, wordnet, opengloss, 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 "purge".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "purge"
Keep "purge" 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 "purge" 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 "purge", 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 "purge" 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
37 entriesShowing 16 of 37 words.
More specific
13 entriesarchive purgecabinet purgecache purgedata purgedecontaminationethnic purgeexclusionexpulsionlog purgeofficial purgeparty purgepurgationrival purge
Collocations
12 entriescache purgedata purgememory purgepolitical purgepurge cachepurge cyclepurge datapurge databasepurge filespurge memorypurge recordssystem purge
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesSample sentences
20 total sentences available.
Sami wanted to purge the evil spirit our of Layla's body.
Source: tatoeba (5921208)
"No hope have I my ancient fatherland, / or darling boys, or long-lost sire to see, / whom now perchance, the Danaans will demand, / poor souls! for vengeance, and their death decree, / to purge my crime, in daring to be free."
Source: tatoeba (6813480)
"Look now, for I will clear the mists that shroud / thy mortal gaze, and from the visual ray / purge the gross covering of this circling cloud. / Thou heed, and fear not, whatsoe'er I say, / nor scorn thy mother's counsels to obey."
Source: tatoeba (6856103)
Showing 4 of 20 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "purge"?
Closest matches include abolishment, abolition, absolve, abstergent, abstersion.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "purge"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.