catharsis
noun/kəˈθɑrsɪs/
Frequency rank: #17,539 most common English word
Meaning
a release of strong emotions that brings relief or purification

Example sentence
After crying through the entire film, she felt a deep sense of catharsis that left her feeling lighter and at peace.
Synonyms & related words
- release
- purification
- relief
- cleansing
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