CATHARSIS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does catharsis mean? 

• CATHARSIS (noun)
  The noun CATHARSIS has 2 senses:

1. (psychoanalysis) purging of emotional tensions

2. purging the body by the use of a cathartic to stimulate evacuation of the bowels

  Familiarity information: CATHARSIS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CATHARSIS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(psychoanalysis) purging of emotional tensions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

abreaction; catharsis; katharsis

Hypernyms ("catharsis" is a kind of...):

purge; purging (an act of removing by cleansing; ridding of sediment or other undesired elements)

Domain category:

analysis; depth psychology; psychoanalysis (a set of techniques for exploring underlying motives and a method of treating various mental disorders; based on the theories of Sigmund Freud)

Derivation:

cathartic (emotionally purging)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Purging the body by the use of a cathartic to stimulate evacuation of the bowels

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

catharsis; katharsis; purgation

Hypernyms ("catharsis" is a kind of...):

purge; purging (an act of removing by cleansing; ridding of sediment or other undesired elements)

Derivation:

cathartic (strongly laxative)