SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
cathartic
adjective
Providing a release of strong or pent-up emotions.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Releasing strong emotion
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topThese alternatives apply figuratively to emotional release; they do not promise a therapeutic result.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See cathartic in use
Writing the letter proved cathartic even though she never sent it.
After the schedule was corrected, Noor made an earnest effort to rebuild the group's confidence, listening carefully to each performer's remaining concern. Reading their scene aloud together proved cathartic for her: it released feelings she had been holding back during the disagreement.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license