katharsis

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Word: Katharsis (often spelled "catharsis")

Part of Speech: Noun

Basic Definition:Katharsis refers to a process of releasing and getting rid of strong emotions or feelings. It is often used in psychology to describe how people can feel better after expressing their emotions, especially after experiencing something difficult or traumatic.

Usage Instructions:

• In a sentence: You can use "katharsis" when talking about emotional healing or relief, often after a stressful or painful experience.
• Example: After crying at the movie, I felt a sense of katharsis, as if I had let go of my worries.

Advanced Usage:

In literature and drama, katharsis can also refer to the emotional release that the audience feels after watching the characters go through intense experiences. It is a key concept in Aristotle's theory of tragedy.

Word Variants:

• Cathartic (adjective): Describing something that provides emotional release.
  • Example: Writing in my journal can be a cathartic experience for me.
• Catharsis (noun): This is the more common spelling in English.

Different Meanings:

1. Psychological Context: As mentioned, it’s about emotional release.
2. Medical Context: It can also refer to a treatment that helps purify or cleanse the body, like using a laxative to relieve constipation.

Synonyms:

• Emotional release
• Purging
• Cleansing
• Relief

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While "katharsis" itself isn’t commonly used in idioms or phrasal verbs, you might come across phrases that express similar ideas: - "Let it all out": This means to express emotions freely, often resulting in a feeling of relief. - Example: After talking about my problems, I felt like I could finally let it all out and move on.

Summary:

Katharsis is about releasing deep emotions, whether through talking, writing, or experiencing art.

Academic

Noun

1. (psychoanalysis) purging of emotional tensions
2. purging the body by the use of a cathartic to stimulate evacuation of the bowels

Synonyms

• catharsis
• abreaction
• purgation