noun
catharsis
kuh-THAH-sihs
noun
1
A powerful release of pent-up emotion, often triggered by a dramatic experience like a film, book, or performance.
"Watching the tragedy unfold on stage gave the audience a real sense of catharsis."
"Writing about the accident in her journal became a form of catharsis."
2
More broadly, any process of releasing and clearing out strong emotions.
"Screaming into a pillow was his go-to catharsis after a bad day."
How to Use Catharsis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn emotional release that leaves you feeling lighter or cleansed, often after something intense.
Memory tip
Often paired with "cathartic" as the adjective form: a cathartic experience produces catharsis.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
a sense of catharsis
a cathartic release
emotional catharsis
Word Forms
catharses plural
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Watching the tragedy unfold on stage gave the audience a real sense of _____.
Etymology
From Greek katharsis, "cleansing" or "purging" — Aristotle used the word to describe how tragic drama purges an audience's pity and fear.