catharsis
noun
ca·thar·sis
| \ kə-ˈthär-səs
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plural catharses\ kə-ˈthär-ˌsēz
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Definition of catharsis
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Examples of catharsis in a Sentence
She has learned to have her catharsis, take a deep breath and move on. … she does not dwell on the negative anymore.
— Selena Roberts, New York Times, 24 June 2001
… malevolence is expressed in his decision to absent himself from the courtroom, thereby denying some victims of his torture the catharsis of compelling him to hear their stories of survival.
— George F. Will, Newsweek, 25 May 1987
… there's the need for catharsis. If you play it all back a second time, you may wear away some of the pain, as you wear away a record with replaying.
— Anatole Broyard, New York Times Book Review, 14 Nov. 1982
As soon as we emerged from the gates of the White House, I became aware of that sea of faces. … I wanted to cry for them and with them, but it was impossible to permit the catharsis of tears.
— Lady Bird Johnson 24 Nov. 1963,
in A White House Diary, 1970
Acting is a means of catharsis for her.
Painting is a catharsis for me.
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Recent Examples on the Web
In a 2017 paper, the MacArthur Foundation recognized the impact such small, impromptu artistic and cultural gatherings can have in neighborhoods — encouraging healing, even catharsis. — Annie Sweeney, chicagotribune.com, "In his beloved Englewood, an internationally known jazz musician hosts drum circles during the violent summer months," 6 Aug. 2019 Her debut set is drenched with emotional catharsis, so Hanson opted for a simple title. — Nick Williams, Billboard, "Pop Wunderkind Carlie Hanson Shares Summer Of Pride Mix & Talks Coming Out, Taylor Swift Co-Sign," 26 July 2019 At this exact moment of catharsis, Tabitha’s phone begins blowing up. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "R29 Binge Club: Netflix’s Trinkets Recap," 15 June 2019 And director Marielle Heller is here to help with a bit of Hollywood catharsis. — Joey Nolfi, EW.com, "Marielle Heller on recreating Mister Rogers' world with Tom Hanks, ties, and vintage cameras," 19 July 2019 In particular, the title story—about the family of a teenage girl who decides to pursue stand-up comedy—chases after catharsis only to land in a space where the dislodged sadness and hurt remain. — The Atlantic, "What We’re Reading This Summer," 28 June 2019 If catharsis has an opposite, that’s what this feeling is. — Lidija Haas, The New Republic, "Notes on Cancel Culture," 1 July 2019 Both genres often set out to give the audience the same thing — a big, satisfying burst of catharsis — but in different ways, and for different reasons. — Noah Berlatsky, The Verge, "Since season 1, Jessica Jones has struggled to mix horror with superheroes," 18 June 2019 This is an experiment in escalating uneasiness absent any release or catharsis. — Lindsey Bahr, Detroit Free Press, "Horror film ‘Midsommar’ casts a disorienting spell on audiences," 3 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'catharsis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for catharsis
catharsis
noun
English Language Learners Definition of catharsis
formal
: the act or process of releasing a strong emotion (such as pity or fear) especially by expressing it in an art form
See the full definition for catharsis in the English Language Learners Dictionary
catharsis
noun
ca·thar·sis
variants:
also katharsis \ kə-ˈthär-səs
\
\
plural catharses
also katharses\ -ˌsēz
\
\
Medical Definition of catharsis
1
: purgation
2
: elimination of a complex by bringing it to consciousness and affording it expression — compare abreaction
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