catharsis
noun
ca·thar·sis kə-ˈthär-səs 
plural catharses kə-ˈthär-ˌsēz
1
a
: purification or purgation of the emotions (such as pity and fear) primarily through art
b
: a purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension
2
: elimination of a complex by bringing it to consciousness and affording it expression
3
: purgation
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Word History of Catharsis and Cathartic
Catharsis and cathartic both trace to the Greek word kathairein, meaning “to cleanse, purge.” Catharsis entered English as a medical term having to do with purging the body—and especially the bowels—of unwanted material. The adjective cathartic entered English with a meaning descriptive of such a physically cleansing purge. It didn’t take long for people to start using these words figuratively in reference to emotional release and spiritual cleansing.
Example Sentences
She has learned to have her catharsis, take a deep breath and move on. … she does not dwell on the negative anymore. 
Selena Roberts, New York Times, 24 June 2001 … malevolence is expressed in his decision to absent himself from the courtroom, thereby denying some victims of his torture the catharsis of compelling him to hear their stories of survival. George F. Will, Newsweek, 25 May 1987 … there's the need for catharsis. If you play it all back a second time, you may wear away some of the pain, as you wear away a record with replaying. Anatole Broyard, New York Times Book Review, 14 Nov. 1982 As soon as we emerged from the gates of the White House, I became aware of that sea of faces. … I wanted to cry for them and with them, but it was impossible to permit the catharsis of tears. Lady Bird Johnson 24 Nov. 1963, in A White House Diary, 1970 Acting is a means of catharsis for her. Painting is a catharsis for me. See More
Selena Roberts, New York Times, 24 June 2001 … malevolence is expressed in his decision to absent himself from the courtroom, thereby denying some victims of his torture the catharsis of compelling him to hear their stories of survival. George F. Will, Newsweek, 25 May 1987 … there's the need for catharsis. If you play it all back a second time, you may wear away some of the pain, as you wear away a record with replaying. Anatole Broyard, New York Times Book Review, 14 Nov. 1982 As soon as we emerged from the gates of the White House, I became aware of that sea of faces. … I wanted to cry for them and with them, but it was impossible to permit the catharsis of tears. Lady Bird Johnson 24 Nov. 1963, in A White House Diary, 1970 Acting is a means of catharsis for her. Painting is a catharsis for me. See More Recent Examples on the Web But the crowd stepped in to help him out and, from there on in, Grohl and everyone else celebrated catharsis in their most vibrant songs. Mark Sutherland, Variety, 3 Sep. 2022 Belinda doesn’t have the big onscreen catharsis that many of the other characters do. Hilton Dresden, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Aug. 2022 The experience has a way of inducing a unique catharsis. Kwasi Boadi, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2022 The film is very funny and very dark, illustrating the comedic catharsis that can offer relief from inner torment. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2022 Immured in reticent modesty, Ploszek’s Lincoln seems perpetually on the verge of an erotic catharsis that never quite arrives. Charles Mcnulty, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2022 This catharsis is triggered by the latter’s visible disgust at the smell of the man who’d been secretly living in his basement. Colin Marshall, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022 Similarly, the falling embrace in anime often functions as a visual shorthand for would-be lovers or friends experiencing a revelation about their relationship and achieving emotional catharsis. Maya Phillips, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2022 The climax comes off as contrived, offering emotional catharsis for Danni and Rowan rather than diving more deeply into the destructive nature of the internet. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 4 Aug. 2022 See More
Mark Sutherland, Variety, 3 Sep. 2022 Belinda doesn’t have the big onscreen catharsis that many of the other characters do. Hilton Dresden, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Aug. 2022 The experience has a way of inducing a unique catharsis. Kwasi Boadi, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2022 The film is very funny and very dark, illustrating the comedic catharsis that can offer relief from inner torment. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2022 Immured in reticent modesty, Ploszek’s Lincoln seems perpetually on the verge of an erotic catharsis that never quite arrives. Charles Mcnulty, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2022 This catharsis is triggered by the latter’s visible disgust at the smell of the man who’d been secretly living in his basement. Colin Marshall, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022 Similarly, the falling embrace in anime often functions as a visual shorthand for would-be lovers or friends experiencing a revelation about their relationship and achieving emotional catharsis. Maya Phillips, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2022 The climax comes off as contrived, offering emotional catharsis for Danni and Rowan rather than diving more deeply into the destructive nature of the internet. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 4 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Greek katharsis, from kathairein to cleanse, purge, from katharos
First Known Use
circa 1775, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Medical Definition
catharsis
noun
ca·thar·sis
variants also katharsis
kə-ˈthär-səs
plural catharses also katharses -ˌsēz
1
: purgation
2
: elimination of a complex by bringing it to consciousness and affording it expression compare abreaction