What does exorcizing mean?
Exorcizing is the present participle of the verb "to exorcize," which means to expel an evil spirit or demon from a person, place, or object, most often through a solemn religious rite conducted by someone with recognized authority, such as an ordained priest. The word's power lies in its vividness: to speak of exorcizing something is to imagine a forceful, ceremonial eviction of a hostile presence. Beyond its literal religious sense — rooted in traditions such as the Roman Catholic Rite of Exorcism — the verb is widely used figuratively to describe banishing intangible burdens, as when someone works at exorcizing old fears, painful memories, or a lingering sense of guilt. This metaphorical use appears frequently in memoirs, journalism, and literary criticism, giving everyday struggles a dramatic, almost supernatural framing. The word derives from the Greek exorkizein, meaning to adjure or bind by oath, entered English via Late Latin and ecclesiastical usage, and remains a striking choice for any context involving the forceful removal of something unwelcome.
verbExorcizing is the present participle of the verb "exorcize," meaning to drive out or expel an evil spirit, demon, or other malevolent presence from a person, place, or thing, typically by means of a religious rite. By extension, it can mean to rid something of an unwanted influence, memory, or feeling.
- To drive out or expel an evil spirit from a person, place, or object, especially through a formal religious ritual.
- (Figurative) To rid oneself or something else of a persistent unwanted memory, emotion, fear, or influence.
"The priest spent hours exorcizing the supposedly haunted farmhouse."
"For three nights the monks performed rites aimed at exorcizing the restless spirit said to haunt the old monastery."
"Writing her memoir was her way of exorcizing the ghosts of a difficult childhood."
Before it meant driving out demons, the Greek root behind "exorcize" literally meant to make someone swear an oath — exorcists were originally oath-administrators.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exorcizing
Exorcizing comes from the verb exorcize, which English borrowed in the early modern period from Late Latin exorcizare, itself derived from Greek exorkizein, meaning "to administer an oath" or "to adjure," formed from ex- (out) and horkos (oath). The original sense involved compelling a spirit by oath or solemn adjuration, which evolved into the specifically Christian sense of commanding demons to depart. Cognate and related forms include exorcism, exorcist, and the Latin-influenced adjure, all preserving the idea of binding speech used against spiritual forces.
Related word forms
How exorcizing is actually used
The verb is relatively formal and carries strong religious and supernatural connotations in its literal sense; figurative use (e.g., exorcizing one's inner demons) is common in journalism and literary writing and is not considered informal. Spelling varies by region: American English favors "exorcize/exorcizing" with a -z-, while British English typically prefers "exorcise/exorcising" with an -s-.
Easily confused with exorcizing
"Exorcise/exorcizing" is the spelling standard in American English, while "exorcise/exorcising" is preferred in British English; both spellings refer to the same meaning.