1. Freeing from noxious matter
   "filtration is a purifying agent"
    
2. Acting like an antiseptic
   "The purifying effects of the ritual were believed to cleanse the soul";
   - cleansing
    
3. Serving to purge or rid of sin
   "purifying rites";
   - purgatorial, purging

1. (chemistry) remove impurities from, increase the concentration of, and separate through the process of distillation
   "purify the water";
   - sublimate, distill [N. Amer], distil [Brit]
    
2. Make pure or free from sin or guilt
   "he left the monastery purified";
   - purge, sanctify
    
3. Become clean, pure or free of guilt and sin
   "The hippies came to the ashram in order to purify"

See also: ablutionary, antiseptic, cleansing, detergent, detersive

Type of: alter, ameliorate, amend, better, change, improve, meliorate, mend, modify

Antonym: adulterant

Encyclopedia: Purifying