Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun cathartic

1 sense of cathartic

Sense 1
purgative, cathartic, physic, aperient -- (a purging medicine; stimulates evacuation of the bowels)
       => medicine, medication, medicament, medicinal drug -- ((medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease)

Antonyms of adj cathartic

3 senses of cathartic

Sense 1
cathartic, psychotherapeutic -- (emotionally purging)

INDIRECT (VIA healthful) -> unhealthful -- (detrimental to good health; "unhealthful air pollution"; "unhealthful conditions in old apartments with peeling lead-based paint")

Sense 2
cathartic, releasing -- (emotionally purging (of e.g. art))

INDIRECT (VIA emotional) -> unemotional -- (unsusceptible to or destitute of or showing no emotion)

Sense 3
cathartic, evacuant, purgative -- (strongly laxative)

INDIRECT (VIA laxative) -> costive -- (retarding evacuation of feces; binding; constipating)

Similarity of adj cathartic

3 senses of cathartic

Sense 1
cathartic, psychotherapeutic -- (emotionally purging)
       => healthful (vs. unhealthful) -- (conducive to good health of body or mind; "a healthful climate"; "a healthful environment"; "healthful nutrition"; "healthful sleep"; "Dickens's relatively healthful exuberance")

Sense 2
cathartic, releasing -- (emotionally purging (of e.g. art))
       => emotional (vs. unemotional) -- (of more than usual emotion; "his behavior was highly emotional")

Sense 3
cathartic, evacuant, purgative -- (strongly laxative)
       => laxative (vs. costive) -- (stimulating evacuation of feces)