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Antonyms for catharsis


Grammar : Noun
Spell : kuh-thahr-sis
Phonetic Transcription : kəˈθɑr sɪs



Definition of catharsis

Origin :
  • 1803, "bodily purging," from Latinized form of Greek katharsis "purging, cleansing," from stem of kathairein "to purify, purge," from katharos "pure, clear of dirt, clean, spotless; open, free; clear of shame or guilt; purified" (with most of the extended senses now found in Modern English clear, clean, pure), of unknown origin. Originally medical in English; of emotions from 1872; psychotherapy sense first recorded 1909, in Brill's translation of Freud.
  • noun purging, purification
Example sentences :
  • It does not touch the ‘catharsis’ of tragedy, which is another matter.
  • Extract from : « The Comedies of William Congreve » by William Congreve
  • Evacuations by venesection and catharsis, and then by the exhibition of opium.
  • Extract from : « Zoonomia, Vol. II » by Erasmus Darwin
  • There are certainly times when catharsis is necessary but "one thing is certain, the day for routine purgation is past."
  • Extract from : « Outwitting Our Nerves » by Josephine A. Jackson and Helen M. Salisbury
  • He however refers only to the catharsis upon the spectator, but not to that of the author's work upon himself.
  • Extract from : « The Literature of Ecstasy » by Albert Mordell
  • He had no sympathy with the poetry that had a social message and he did not understand its effect as a catharsis.
  • Extract from : « The Literature of Ecstasy » by Albert Mordell

Synonyms for catharsis

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019