exorcize

/ˈɛksɔrˌsaɪz/
verb
  1. To drive out an evil spirit from a person or place by prayer or ritual.
    • Ancient cultures used special chants to exorcize evil spirits.
    • In the movie, the hero tries to exorcize a demon from a young girl.
    • The priest was called to exorcize the haunted mansion.
  2. To remove or get rid of something troubling or harmful, such as a fear or memory.
    • The artist used painting to exorcize the painful memories of war.
    • He hoped that talking about the accident would help exorcize his guilt.
    • She wrote in her journal to exorcize her anxiety about the exam.
Antonyms