PURGING Definition & Meaning

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purging

[ pur-jing ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

having a clearing, emptying, or purifying effect:
Her fears of death have passed like a cloud, absorbed in the purging sunlight of clear poetry.
having to do with deliberate or induced vomiting or evacuation of the bowels: These purging drugs have an excellent safety record.
Many physical conditions result from the purging aspect of bulimia, including electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal problems, and dental issues.
These purging drugs have an excellent safety record.

noun

the action of clearing, emptying, or purifying:
It may require a lot of focused work involving the purging of old habits and harsh self-judgment.
The drugs have been used clinically in the purging of T-cells or tumor cells from bone marrow before transplantation.
the act of removing or expelling people who are considered disloyal or otherwise unwanted from an organization, political party, nation, etc.:
The judge has granted a temporary injunction stopping the purging of voter registration rolls.
The rebels’ key negotiating point was the purging of the armed forces as a first condition.
deliberate or induced vomiting or evacuation of the bowels: The medication affects the salivary glands, tear ducts, intestines, and bowels, and can cause violent purging.
Binge eating can also occur on its own without the purging that occurs with bulimia.
The medication affects the salivary glands, tear ducts, intestines, and bowels, and can cause violent purging.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of purging¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; purg(e) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses; purg(e) ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Those with political dominance are purging branches of the civil service, taking over national arts organizations, defunding entitlement programs and threatening corporations that defy their dictates.

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Fascism is always an ideology based on the belief that modern society has become weak and degenerate, and that the cure is purging certain people.

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Like Hitler, he seems committed to purging anyone who has opposed him and to making the law himself.

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However, it isn’t clear that a change in venue would eliminate political influence, especially under a Trump administration that appears to be purging those perceived as political or ideological opponents.

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The triteness makes us uncertain how much of his impassioned purging is the truth.

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