purgatory

noun
UK: /ˈpɜːɡətɔːri/
US: /ˈpɜːrɡətɔːri/

  1. In some religions, purgatory is the place where souls go to be purified before going to heaven.

    1. He believes in purgatory after death. [ ] [ ]
    2. The concept of purgatory is central to their religious beliefs regarding the afterlife. [ ] [ ]

  2. A state of suffering or waiting before a better situation arrives.

    1. My time in the hospital was purgatory. [ ] [ ]
    2. The long job search felt like purgatory; I was constantly waiting for good news. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

torment tribulation suffering limbo
purgatory adjective

  1. Relating to or resembling purgatory; a place or state of suffering.

    1. This job is purgatorial. [ ] [ ]
    2. The years following the war were a purgatorial period for the entire nation. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "purgatory" in English means: In some religions, purgatory is the place where souls go to be purified before going to heaven., A state of suffering or waiting before a better situation arrives..

The phonetic transcription of "purgatory" is /ˈpɜːɡətɔːri/ in British English and /ˈpɜːrɡətɔːri/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "purgatory": torment, tribulation, suffering, limbo.

Example usage of "purgatory": "He believes in purgatory after death.". More examples on the page.