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Adjective: cathartic  ku'thaa(r)-tik
  1. Emotionally purging
    "The cathartic experience of writing in her journal helped her process her grief";
    - psychotherapeutic
     
  2. Strongly laxative
    "The doctor prescribed a cathartic medication to relieve his constipation";
    - evacuant, purgative
Noun: cathartic  ku'thaa(r)-tik
  1. A purging medicine; stimulates evacuation of the bowels
    "The doctor prescribed a mild cathartic to relieve the patient's constipation";
    - purgative, physic [archaic], aperient

Derived forms: cathartics

See also: healthful, laxative

Type of: med [informal], medicament, medication, medicinal drug, medicine

Encyclopedia: Cathartic