Standard Lemma guide

cleansing

adj · noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈklɛn.zɪŋ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: K L EH1 N Z IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

That cleanses.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Apply the cleansing cream to your skin.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The process of removing dirt, toxins etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • Regular skin cleansing may help to prevent acne.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

present participle and gerund of cleanse

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

acting like an antiseptic

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: purifying

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

cleansing the body by washing; especially ritual washing of e.g. hands

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • ablutionary rituals

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ablutionary

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

the act of making something clean

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he gave his shoes a good cleaning

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cleaning, cleanup

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: improvement

Narrower terms: disinfestation, spring-cleaning, scrub, scrubbing, scouring, dry cleaning, sweeping, purge, purging, purification, sterilization, sterilisation, sanitation, sanitization, sanitisation, depilation, epilation, washup, bathing, housecleaning

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: puhdistava — that cleanses
  • French: détergent — that cleanses
  • French: détersif — that cleanses
  • Greek: απορρυπαντικός (aporrypantikós) — that cleanses
  • Greek: καθαριστικός (katharistikós) — that cleanses
  • Irish: glantach — that cleanses
  • Italian: detergente — that cleanses
  • Italian: pulitore — that cleanses
  • Portuguese: detergente — that cleanses
  • Romanian: detergent — that cleanses
  • Russian: очищающий (očiščajuščij) — that cleanses
  • Swedish: renande — that cleanses
  • Swedish: rengörande — that cleanses
  • Gothic: 𐌷𐍂𐌰𐌹𐌽𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 (hraineins) — the process of removing dirt, toxins etc.
  • Ancient Greek: καθαρισμός (katharismós) — the process of removing dirt, toxins etc.
  • Italian: pulizia — the process of removing dirt, toxins etc.
  • Russian: очище́ние (očiščénije) — the process of removing dirt, toxins etc.
  • Russian: чи́стка (čístka) — the process of removing dirt, toxins etc.
  • Spanish: limpieza — the process of removing dirt, toxins etc.
  • Spanish: depuración — the process of removing dirt, toxins etc.
  • Spanish: acendramiento — the process of removing dirt, toxins etc.
  • Spanish: aquilatamiento — the process of removing dirt, toxins etc.
  • Spanish: abstersión — the process of removing dirt, toxins etc.
  • Swedish: rening — the process of removing dirt, toxins etc.
  • Swedish: rengöring — the process of removing dirt, toxins etc.
  • Swedish: rensning — the process of removing dirt, toxins etc.