sublimate
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sublimate
- /ˈsʌblɪmeɪt/
- /ˈsʌblɪmət/
Where it comes from
From Middle English sublymate, from Latin sublīmātus, past participle of sublīmāre (“to raise, elevate”).
verb sublimates · sublimating · sublimated
-
To change (a solid substance) into a gas without breaking down or passing through the liquid state by heating it gently.
Similar: sublime
-
To change (a substance) from a gas into a solid through sublimation.
Similar: sublime
- To refine (something) until it disappears or loses all meaning.
- To modify (the natural expression of a sexual or primitive instinct) in a socially acceptable manner; to divert the energy of (such an instinct) into some acceptable activity. Foreigners extol the American "energy" […] Basically it is the energy of violence, of free-floating resentment and anxiety unleashed by chronic cultural dislocations which must be, for the most part, ferociously sublimated. This energy has mainly been sublimated into crude materialism and acquisitiv
- To obtain (something) through, or as if through, sublimation.
- To purify or refine (a substance). The precepts of Christianity are […] so apt […] to cleanse and sublimate the more gross and corrupt.
- To raise (someone) to a high office or status; to dignify, to elevate, to exalt.
- To raise something to a state of excellence; to improve.
-
Of a substance: to change from a solid into a gas without passing through the liquid state, with or without being heated.
Similar: sublime
-
Of a substance: to change from a gas into a solid without passing through the liquid state.
Similar: sublime
- To modify the natural expression of a sexual or primitive instinct in a socially acceptable manner; to divert the energy of such an instinct into some acceptable activity.
-
Synonym of sublime (“to become higher in quality or status; to improve”).
Similar: sublime
Opposite: deposit, desublimate
Thesaurus
verb
Opposite: deposit, desublimate
noun
Opposite: deposit
Translations
Every language
verb to modify (the natural expression of a sexual or primitive instinct) in a socially acceptable manner
| Español | sublimar |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 昇華させる shōka saseru |
| Português | sublimar |
| Français | sublimer |
| Deutsch | sublimieren |
verb to change (a solid substance) into a gas without breaking down or passing through the liquid state by heating it gently
| Español | sublimar |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 승화하다 seunghwahada |
| 日本語 | 昇華させる shōka saseru |
| 中文 | 升華 /升华 shēnghuá |
| Português | sublimar |
| Français | sublimer |
| Deutsch | sublimieren |
| Русский | сублими́ровать sublimírovatʹ, возгоня́ть vozgonjátʹ, возгна́ть vozgnátʹ |
| Tiếng Việt | thăng hoa |
verb to purify or refine (a substance)
| Español | sublimar |
|---|---|
| Português | sublimar |
| Français | sublimer |
| Русский | очища́ть očiščátʹ, очи́стить očístitʹ |
verb to raise (someone) to a high office or status
| Español | sublimar |
|---|---|
| Português | sublimar |
| Français | honorer |
| Русский | возвыша́ть vozvyšátʹ, возвы́сить vozvýsitʹ |
Talk about this word "sublimate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/sublimate. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. sublimate. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/sublimate "sublimate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/sublimate.Cite this
@misc{sublimate_2026,
title = {sublimate},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/sublimate},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
