as in drug
a substance used to induce or speed up the process of defecation In the past, purgatives were sometimes administered in cases of accidental poisoning.
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Recent Examples of purgative Sales of purgatives, tonics, syrups and patent medicines like Carter’s Little Liver Pills went through the roof as ordinary people were encouraged to closely monitor the frequency and quality of their bowel movements. —
Elsa Richardson, TIME, 3 Oct. 2024 Or merely the tall-tale purgative of a frantic Purgatorian? —Tom Nolan, WSJ, 11 June 2021 The persistent and sickening violence of Detroit could work as a powerful purgative, a corrective medicine for deprogramming those who doubt the reality of police brutality. —Josephine Livingstone, New Republic, 8 Aug. 2017 Blackshirts forced their opponents to drink castor oil and other purgatives, and then sent them home, wrenching with pain and covered in their own feces. —Michael Ebner, Slate Magazine, 30 Jan. 2017
Elsa Richardson, TIME, 3 Oct. 2024 Or merely the tall-tale purgative of a frantic Purgatorian? —Tom Nolan, WSJ, 11 June 2021 The persistent and sickening violence of Detroit could work as a powerful purgative, a corrective medicine for deprogramming those who doubt the reality of police brutality. —Josephine Livingstone, New Republic, 8 Aug. 2017 Blackshirts forced their opponents to drink castor oil and other purgatives, and then sent them home, wrenching with pain and covered in their own feces. —Michael Ebner, Slate Magazine, 30 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purgative
Noun
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Officers then arrested Harrison and searched his body, discovering seven more bags containing drugs.— Lily Carey, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
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But the attack may have dealt a blow to the Mexican government’s assertions that the country is a safe place to visit, coming months after widespread attacks by criminal groups in response to a drug lord’s killing.— Michael Rios, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In its major settlements with universities, the Administration has shortened the investigation stage and pushed for broad, often unrelated remedies.— Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
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There is a lengthy legal process ahead involving the remedies phase of this trial, which will likely take several months and determine what penalties Live Nation will face as a result of the jury’s verdict.— Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purgative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/purgative. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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