CLEANSE means to make thoroughly clean or pure, whether physically, spiritually, or metaphorically. This powerful verb encompasses everything from basic hygiene to profound spiritual renewal.
Yes. CLEANSE is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 9 points in Scrabble, 12 in Words With Friends and 10 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | C | L | E | A | N | S | E | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| Words With Friends | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| Wordfeud | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
CLEANSE carries deeper meaning than simply "to clean." While cleaning removes surface dirt, cleansing implies a thorough, often transformative process that purifies at a fundamental level. This distinction explains why we clean dishes but cleanse our souls, clean houses but cleanse our bodies of toxins.
In health and wellness, cleansing has become a cultural phenomenon. Juice cleanses, detox diets, and colon cleanses promise to rid the body of accumulated toxins. While medical professionals debate their efficacy, the popularity of cleansing reflects a deep human desire for renewal and fresh starts. The act of cleansing becomes ritualistic, marking transitions and new beginnings.
Spiritual and religious traditions have long emphasized cleansing rituals. From Christian baptism to Hindu ritual bathing in the Ganges, from Jewish mikvah to Islamic wudu, water serves as the universal medium for spiritual purification. These practices recognize that true cleansing transcends the physical, washing away spiritual impurities and preparing believers for sacred encounters.
CLEANSE derives from the Old English "clǣnsian," meaning "to make clean or pure." This comes from "clǣne" (clean), which traces back to the West Germanic "klainja," meaning "clear, pure, or free from dirt." The Germanic root emphasizes moral purity as much as physical cleanliness.
Anagrams: ENLACESSCALENE
Hooks: no front hooks; back CLEANSED, CLEANSER, CLEANSES.
Words inside CLEANSE: 96 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: ENLACESSCALENECLEANSENCASEENLACELANCESSEANCESENECAACNESALECSCANESCEASE. See all words from CLEANSE.