PURGATORY: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for PURGATORY?

Need another word that means the same as “purgatory”? Find 12 synonyms and 30 related words for “purgatory” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Purgatory” are: torment, torture, misery, suffering, affliction, anguish, agony, wretchedness, woe, tribulation, hell, hell on earth

Purgatory as a Noun

Definitions of "Purgatory" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “purgatory” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A temporary condition of torment or suffering.
• Mental anguish or suffering.
• (in Catholic doctrine) a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven.
• In Roman Catholic theology the place where those who have died in a state of grace undergo limited torment to expiate their sins.
• (theology) in Roman Catholic theology the place where those who have died in a state of grace undergo limited torment to expiate their sins.

Synonyms of "Purgatory" as a noun (12 Words)

affliction	A cause of great suffering and distress. A crippling affliction of the nervous system.
agony	Extreme physical or mental suffering. He crashed to the ground in agony.
anguish	Extreme mental distress. Philip gave a cry of anguish.
hell on earth	Noisy and unrestrained mischief.
misery	A person who is constantly miserable or discontented. The misery and wretchedness of those slums is intolerable.
suffering	Psychological suffering. Weapons that cause unnecessary suffering.
torment	A feeling of intense annoyance caused by being tormented. Their deaths have left both families in torment.
torture	Unbearable physical pain. Confessions extracted under torture.
tribulation	An annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event. His time of tribulation was just beginning.
woe	Intense mournfulness. The Everton tale of woe continued.
wretchedness	A state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune. The misery and wretchedness of those slums is intolerable.

Usage Examples of "Purgatory" as a noun

• All her sins were forgiven and she would not need to go to Purgatory.
• A purgatory of drug abuse.
• This was purgatory, worse than anything she'd faced in her life.
• The punishment of souls in purgatory.

Associations of "Purgatory" (30 Words)

angel	In traditional Christian angelology a being of the lowest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy. Every year we raise the money for the next season and we are always looking for an angel.
archangel	An angel ranked above the highest rank in the celestial hierarchy.
archbishop	A bishop of highest rank. The Archbishop of York.
ascension	(astronomy) the rising of a star above the horizon. His ascension to the presidency.
cardinal	A deep scarlet colour like that of a cardinal s cassock. His appointment as cardinal.
coadjutor	An assistant to a bishop.
confessional	An enclosed stall in a church divided by a screen or curtain in which a priest sits to hear confessions. Tabloid confessionals.
conflagration	An extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property. Tinder dry conditions sparked fears of a conflagration in many drought devastated communities.
dark	A dark colour or shade especially in a painting. When I came to work here over half the West End theatres were dark.
demon	Reckless mischief; devilry. A friend of mine is a demon cook.
dungeon	Imprison someone in a dungeon.
excellency	An outstanding feature or quality. The characteristic excellencies of Wordsworth's poetry are listed.
expiate	Make amends or reparation for (guilt or wrongdoing. Their sins must be expiated by sacrifice.
firmament	The apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected. Thunder shakes the firmament.
forgivable	Easily excused or forgiven. The flaws are forgivable.
heaven	A place, state, or experience of supreme bliss. Those who practised good deeds would receive the reward of a place in heaven.
infernal	Characteristic of or resembling Hell. Infernal instruments of war.
inferno	A very intense and uncontrolled fire. The inferno of the engine room.
malevolent	Wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred. Failure made him malevolent toward those who were successful.
perdition	The abode of Satan and the forces of evil; where sinners suffer eternal punishment- John Milton. Hurl d headlong To bottomless perdition there to dwell.
perpetrate	Perform an act, usually with a negative connotation. A crime has been perpetrated against a sovereign state.
pope	English poet and satirist (1688-1744.
prelate	A bishop or other high ecclesiastical dignitary.
prison	A prisonlike situation a place of seeming confinement. He died in prison.
sin	Commit a sin. A sin in the eyes of God.
supernal	Being or coming from on high. Supernal erudition.
transgression	The spreading of the sea over land as evidenced by the deposition of marine strata over terrestrial strata. The boy was punished for the transgressions of his father.
underworld	The mythical abode of the dead, imagined as being under the earth. A prominent underworld figure.
welkin	The sky or heaven.