Catharsis

Quick meaning: Catharsis is a noun meaning Any release of emotional tension to the same effect, more widely.

Meaning

Any release of emotional tension to the same effect, more widely.

More Meanings

1. A purification or cleansing, especially emotional.
2. (medicine) Purging of the digestive system.
3. (drama) A release of emotional tension after an overwhelming vicarious experience, resulting in the purging or purification of the emotions, as through watching a dramatic production (especially a tragedy).
4. (psychology) A therapeutic technique to relieve tension by reestablishing the association of an emotion with the memory or idea of the event that first caused it, and then eliminating it by complete expression (called the abreaction).

Example Sentences

True, as the show has entered its later years, there have been more inspired moments of catharsis, but fewer unpredictable arcs and story beats, as a narrative nearing its conclusion is no longer attempting to shock.

Word Forms

• catharses

Synonyms for catharsis

Depending on context, synonyms include abreaction, katharsis.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include katharsis, abreaction, catharization, purgation, eucatastrophe, dramatization.

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