Meaning & use
Purgative
Last updated
Having the effect of cleansing or purging, especially causing the bowels to empty.
See it in a sentence
The doctor recommended a mild purgative to relieve the patient's constipation.
Certain herbal teas are known for their purgative effects.
A note on using this word
From the Latin 'purgare', meaning 'to cleanse'; can be used as both an adjective and a noun for the substance itself.
Words with a similar meaning
laxativecathartic
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
constipating
Another way to use it
2. noun
A medicine or substance that causes evacuation of the bowels.
The nurse administered a purgative before the procedure.
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