purgatory

noun

(theology) in Roman Catholic theology the place where those who have died in a state of grace undergo limited torment to expiate their sins

a temporary condition of torment or suffering

Roots

purgarepurg- · Latin · to cleanse

Synonyms for purgatory

limbon helln infernon sheol hadesn perditionn purgationn penancen

Synonyms & related words for purgatory

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of purgatory — including limbo, hell, inferno, sheol, hades, perdition. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to purgatory

Explore words related to purgatory — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include purgatorian, purgatorial, hellfire, hellward, afterlives, hellhole, netherworld, afterlife. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for purgatory

Common synonyms for purgatory include limbo, hell, inferno, sheol, hades, perdition, purgation, penance — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does purgatory come from?

The word purgatory breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root purg-, from Latin purgare (“to cleanse”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.