expurgatory

expurgatory

A librarian carefully performs an expurgatory review of a classic novel.

Definition

Adjective: Relating to or serving the purpose of expurgation, meaning the removal or censorship of content considered objectionable, offensive, or inappropriate from a text, film, or other work.

Usage Examples
  • (An edition that censored offensive language.)
  • (Her changes aimed at removing objectionable parts.)
  • (The cuts that removed inappropriate scenes.)
Advanced Usage

  • "Expurgatory process": the act of systematically removing offensive material.

    • The committee oversaw the expurgatory process for the textbook. (They managed the removal of controversial content.)

  • "Expurgatory measures": actions taken to censor or clean up content.

    • The school board implemented expurgatory measures on all library books. (They applied censorship rules.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Expurgate (verb): to remove objectionable content from a work.
    • The editor had to expurgate several chapters from the autobiography. (Remove offensive parts.)
  • Expurgation (noun): the act or process of removing objectionable material.
    • The expurgation of the diary was completed before publication. (The removal process.)
  • Expurgator (noun): a person who expurgates material.
    • The expurgator carefully deleted all references to the scandal. (The censor.)
Synonyms
  • Censorial: relating to official censorship.
    • The censorial board approved the expurgatory changes.
  • Purifying: intended to make something clean or free from impurity.
    • The purifying edits removed all vulgar language.
  • Sanitizing: making something less offensive by removing unpleasant elements.
    • The sanitizing version of the story omitted the violent scenes.
Related Idioms
  • To bowdlerize: to remove material considered improper (from Thomas Bowdler, who published an expurgated Shakespeare).
    • The expurgatory version of the play was bowdlerized for family audiences. (Censored for decency.)
  • To clean up one's act: to remove offensive or improper behavior or content.
    • The expurgatory revision cleaned up the book's act for school libraries. (Made it acceptable.)
Antonyms
  • Uncensored: not subjected to removal of objectionable content.
    • The uncensored version contrasted sharply with the expurgatory edition.
  • Complete: containing all original content without removal.
    • The complete text was preferred over the expurgatory one by scholars.