Antichrist

noun

An·​ti·​christ
ˈan-tē-ˌkrīst,
-ˌtī- How to pronounce Antichrist (audio)
variants or less commonly antichrist or Anti-Christ or anti-Christ
1
: one who denies or opposes Christ
specifically : a great antagonist expected to fill the world with wickedness but to be conquered forever by Christ at his second coming
2
used in an exaggerated way to describe a person regarded as a powerful and malevolent adversary
usually used with the
With time this contrast hardened into hacker iconography. Gates was the anti-Christ, a man whose corporate stranglehold on the software industry had left it awash in ugly products.Robert Wright

Examples of Antichrist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Her sermons have referenced antisemitic conspiracy theories, the Antichrist and a communist plot involving sculptures. Erin Glynn, The Enquirer, 24 Jan. 2024 Unfortunately that kid, Damien, turns out to be the Antichrist. Shania Russell, EW.com, 3 Jan. 2024 The supernatural pair doesn't really want the Antichrist—an 11-year-old boy named Adam (Sam Taylor Buck) who has grown up unaware of his pivotal role in the coming apocalypse—to bring an end to all of that. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 7 June 2023 That house is now up for sale and seems sunny and cheery in all the ways Antichrist is not. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 Oct. 2023 And for good reason: The church fears of an ancient prophecy that a woman will give birth to both the Messiah and the Antichrist. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2023 Everyone’s favorite father figure, Gregory Peck, takes the lead as an American ambassador trying to figure out if his son is the Antichrist. Deanna Janes, Harper's BAZAAR, 28 Aug. 2023 This is the Rapture, when believers will be swept up to heaven, leaving behind empty beds, unpiloted planes, half-mown lawns, and unmanned information kiosks, before the coming of Antichrist. Michael Robbins, Harper's Magazine, 9 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Antichrist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English anticrist, from Old English & Late Latin; Old English antecrist, from Late Latin Antichristus, from Greek Antichristos, from anti- + Christos Christ

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Antichrist was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near Antichrist

Cite this Entry

“Antichrist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Antichrist. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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