cleanse

UK: /ˈklɛnz/ US: /klɛnz/ ,(klenz)

Inflections of 'cleanse' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

cleanses

v 3rd person singular

cleansing

v pres p

cleansed

v past

cleansed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cleanse /klɛnz/   v., cleansed, cleans•ing. 

1. to make clean:
   [~ + object] She cleansed the wound with alcohol.
2. to remove (something) from (something) by or as if by cleaning: [~ + object + from + object]
   to cleanse sin from the soul.
   [~ + object + of + object]
   to cleanse our souls of sin.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cleanse  (klenz), v., cleansed, cleans•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to make clean.
2. to remove by or as if by cleaning:
   to cleanse sin from the soul.

v.i. 

3. to become clean.

• Middle English clensen, Old English clǣnsian, equivalent. to clǣne clean + -si- verb, verbal suffix + -an infinitive suffix bef. 900

cleans′a•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. See clean. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cleanse / klɛnz/ verb (transitive)

1. to remove dirt, filth, etc, from
2. to remove guilt from
3. to remove a group of people from (an area) by means of ethnic cleansing

Etymology: Old English clǣnsian; related to Middle Low German klēnsen; see clean