purify

Verb

Meaning

To make pure or clear from material defilement, admixture, or imperfection; to free from extraneous or noxious matter; as, to purify liquors or metals; to purify the blood; to purify the air.

Hence, in figurative uses: (a) To free from guilt or moral defilement; as, to purify the heart.

To free from ceremonial or legal defilement.

To free from improprieties or barbarisms; as, to purify a language.

To grow or become pure or clear.

Source: Webster's dictionary

Synonyms

purge distill sanctify sublimate lustrate make pure wash bream process clear baptize consecrate distil hallow chasten
Show all synonyms

Antonyms

defile sully pip black doctor water
Show all antonyms

Hypernyms

change better improve alter modify amend

Hyponyms

purge refine rectify spiritualize spiritualise lustrate

Related terms

puritan

Phrases with the word

purify with smoke to purify

Derivatives

purified purifying

Examples

Do you see? There exists a kind of knowledge that is without love. It does not purify the psyche in any way, but kills it, as it lacks the love that is the head, the body, and very root of all virtue. Gregory Palamas

[Jesus] was born and baptized that by his suffering he might purify the water. Ignatius of Antioch

The summit of evil, the crime most natural to the devil, pride, was born of knowledge. But if this is so, how can it be possible that all the passions result from ignorance? Does knowledge purify the psyche? Paul says: Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Gregory Palamas

Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart. Washington Irving

All religions worthy of the name are now making great efforts to purify their doctrines and return to their original standpoint, all except Christianity! You surely know that the nineteenth century Christianity is not the religion taught by Christ. Christ's religion has been changed and corrupted. Virchand Gandhi

There is no hope even that woman, with her right to vote, will ever purify politics. Emma Goldman

Close letter words and terms

purifier puriform Purifoy purify with smoke purifying purifying air