Purgatory is the place where Roman Catholics believe the spirits of dead people are sent to suffer for their sins before they go to heaven.
Prayers were said for souls in Purgatory.
2. uncountable noun
You can describe a very unpleasant experience as purgatory.
Every step of the last three miles was purgatory.
...five years of economic purgatory.
Synonyms: torment, agony, murder [informal], hell [informal] More Synonyms of purgatory
purgatory in British English
(ˈpɜːɡətərɪ, -trɪ)
noun
1. mainly Roman Catholic Church
a state or place in which the souls of those who have died in a state of grace are believed to undergo a limited amount of suffering to expiate their venial sins and become purified of the remaining effects of mortal sin
2.
a place or condition of suffering or torment, esp one that is temporary
Word origin
C13: from Old French purgatoire, from Medieval Latin pūrgātōrium, literally: place of cleansing, from Latin pūrgāre to purge
purgatory in American English
(ˈpɜrgəˌtɔri)
nounWord forms: pluralˈpurgaˌtories
1. [oftenP-]; Theology
a state or place in which, in Rom. Catholicism and other Christian doctrine, those who have died in the grace of God expiate their sins by suffering
2.
any state or place of temporary punishment, expiation, or remorse
Word origin
ME purgatorie < OFr & ML(Ec): OFr purgatoire < ML(Ec) purgatorium < LL purgatorius, cleansing < L purgare: see purge
Examples of 'purgatory' in a sentence
purgatory
And the ghost, might he then have made his way through purgatory -- wherever that was -- to whatever itis that lies beyond?
Salley Vickers INSTANCES OF THE NUMBER 3 (2002)
Had deprived her, condemned her to the purgatory of a half-life without them.
Dobbs, Michael WALL GAMES (2002)
Even though," and here Alexander raised a commanding papal finger," our souls may rest for a time in purgatory.
Mario Puzo THE FAMILY (2002)
(noun)
Definition
a situation of temporary suffering or torment
Every step of the last three miles was sheer purgatory.
Synonyms
torment
We spent our days in torment, waiting for news.
agony
We accepted there would be agony for the remaining children.
murder (informal)
I've taken three aspirins, but this headache's still absolute murder.
hell (informal)
the hell of grief and lost love
torture
Waiting for the result was torture.
misery
All that money brought nothing but misery.
hell on earth
Additional synonyms
in the sense of agony
Definition
acute physical or mental pain
We accepted there would be agony for the remaining children.
Synonyms
suffering,
pain,
distress,
misery,
torture,
discomfort,
torment,
hardship,
woe,
anguish,
pangs,
affliction,
throes
in the sense of hell
Definition
a situation that causes suffering or extreme difficulty
the hell of grief and lost love
Synonyms
torment,
suffering,
agony,
trial,
nightmare,
misery,
ordeal,
anguish,
affliction,
martyrdom,
wretchedness
in the sense of misery
Definition
intense unhappiness or suffering
All that money brought nothing but misery.
Synonyms
unhappiness,
distress,
despair,
grief,
suffering,
depression,
torture,
agony,
gloom,
sadness,
discomfort,
torment,
hardship,
sorrow,
woe,
anguish,
melancholy,
desolation,
wretchedness
Nearby words of
purgatory
pure-bred
purely
purgative
purgatory
purge
purify
purist
Synonyms of 'purgatory'
purgatory
Explore 'purgatory' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of murder
Definition
something dangerous, difficult, or unpleasant
I've taken three aspirins, but this headache's still absolute murder.