# cathartic

> English word · Adjective · IPA /kəˈθɑɹtɪk/ · frequency rank #36,479

## Definitions
1. Purgative; inducing mental or physical catharsis.
2. That which releases emotional tension, especially after an overwhelming experience.

## Etymology
Learned borrowing from New Latin catharticus, from Ancient Greek καθαρτικός (kathartikós).

## Easily confused with
- **catharsis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/catharsis-vs-cathartic)

## Common misspellings (14)
`acthartic`, `cahtartic`, `catahrtic`, `catharitc`, `catharrtic`, `cathartci`, `catharticc`, `catharttic`, `cathatric`, `cathhartic`, `cathratic`, `catthartic`, `ccathartic`, `ctahartic`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/cathartic