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Prepositions after verbs

Cleanse of or cleanse from?

Cleanse of is the standard pattern for removing something unwanted. Cleanse from appears mainly in passive or formal contexts.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with cleanse?

Use cleanse of to mean remove something harmful, dirty, or unwanted. Cleanse from is less common and usually appears in passive structures such as be cleansed from sin.

The treatment helps cleanse the skin of oil.
The ritual was meant to cleanse them from evil influences.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
cleanse + object + of + unwanted thing

Removing something harmful or dirty

This is the most common and natural structure.

The shampoo cleanses the hair of dirt.
The process cleansed the water of chemicals.
2
be cleansed from + condition

Passive and formal use

From is more common in passive or religious language.

The village was cleansed from disease.
He hoped to be cleansed from guilt.
3
cleanse + object

Using cleanse without a preposition

The verb can stand alone when the unwanted substance is obvious.

This product cleanses deeply.
The mask cleanses and refreshes the skin.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
cleanse of
The soap cleanses the skin of bacteria.
Remove something unwanted from something else.
cleanse from
The area was cleansed from infection.
Passive or formal expression for removal.
cleanse with
She cleansed her face with warm water.
Introduce the method or substance used.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using from in ordinary active sentences

Of is usually more natural in active structures.

✕ This cream cleanses the skin from dirt. ✓ This cream cleanses the skin of dirt.

Using cleanse as a noun

Cleanse is mainly a verb in standard usage.

✕ I bought a cleanse for my hands. ✓ I bought a cleanser for my hands.

Missing the object before of

The thing being cleansed normally comes before of.

✕ The soap cleanses of oil. ✓ The soap cleanses the skin of oil.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The filter cleanses the water ___ impurities.
2. The patient hoped to be cleansed ___ infection.
3. She cleansed her face ___ warm water.

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Frequently asked questions

Is cleanse from incorrect?

No, but it is less common and more formal than cleanse of.

Can cleanse be reflexive?

Yes. You can say cleanse yourself of negative habits.

What is the difference between clean and cleanse?

Clean is more general and common. Cleanse often sounds more formal, medical, or cosmetic.

calculate, by, calculate, in, calculate, from "call for" or "call on"? "campaign for" or "campaign against"? cancel by, due, at, in or for? capitulate to, in, like, by or after? captivate by, for, with, from or in? "capture by" or "capture in"? "care about" or "care for"? carry with, by, in, to or into? carve into, out, in, on or with? cast in, into, for, by or on? "catch in", "catch by" or "catch on"?

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