Definitions

purgatory

[pur-guh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈpɜr gəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

NOUN

hell

Synonyms

STRONGEST

limbo

STRONG

Gehenna Hades abyss perdition pit suffering underworld

WEAK

Abaddon bottomless pit everlasting fire fire and brimstone infernal regions lower world nether world place of torment

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They feel like suburban purgatory, liminal implying a state in between reality and dream.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

You can even rescue other canned beans from pantry purgatory: kidney, white, garbanzo, whatever you have on hand.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

This state of purgatory continued for nearly six years.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

With its bed made just so, “Exit 8” has a refreshing ambition: It wants to be both a purgatory and an advancement in form.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Pieces that Chandresh became bored with at one point or another and were adopted into this purgatory instead of being discarded entirely.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Vocabulary lists containing purgatory

Romeo and Juliet

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World Religions

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Bless Me, Ultima

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