anathema

noun

ə-ˈna-thə-mə How to pronounce anathema (audio)
Definition of anathemanext
1
as in curse
a prayer that harm will come to someone uttered an anathema before driving the would-be robber from the his shop

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in enemy
something or someone that is hated the use of animals in the testing of cosmetics is anathema to animal-rights activists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anathema There are likely many of you reading this who will never ever be convinced and see AI as anathema to creativity. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026 Ceding federal lands is also anathema to land preservation groups, which expressed dismay at the idea that any piece of Yosemite might be lost, no matter how small. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 And so to outsource that to a machine to me is just anathema. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 Over the ensuing decades, however, advertising became something anathema to Hollywood. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for anathema
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anathema
  1. curse
  2. enemy
  3. hate
  4. abomination
  5. antipathy
  6. abhorrence
  7. detestation
  8. phobia
Noun
  • Lakshmana faces a difficult decision—whether to break Rama’s command or to allow the sage to unleash his curse.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Its quoting is generally accompanied by a Nicholson impression of dubious quality, which is both a curse and an opportunity for director Michael Arden’s expansive new production and its current star, Bradley Whitford.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of curse
Noun
  • After a period of inactivity that included elbow surgery, Álvarez — beyond his opponents — faces his greatest enemy in Father Time, as demonstrated by his September 2025 loss to Terence Crawford, which cost him his four super-middleweight titles.
    — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Lakshmana, however, recognizes the deception and initially refuses to leave, confident in Rama’s ability to defeat any enemy.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of enemy
Noun
  • There's always room for good-natured college football fan ribbing, chanting, rivalries, and even some good old-fashioned hate.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • He was eventually banned from Twitter (as well as YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit), and his podcast was removed from Spotify for hate-speech violations.
    — Nathan Taylor Pemberton, Vanity Fair, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of hate
Noun
  • What are the implications when much of humanity witnesses the same pyrotechnic abomination at the same time?
    — David Friend, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026
  • It a thematic fit, and after nearly 200 episodes, there’s no doubting this team’s ability to deliver fresh, new abominations.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of abomination
Noun
  • The other is that Republicans’ antipathy towards vote-by-mail is waning.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026
  • Alexander Kazakov | Afp | Getty Images That Russia and China are seen as ideologically aligned on many geopolitical issues, with each sharing a traditional antipathy and distrust towards the West, and Washington.
    — Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 20 May 2026
Definition of antipathy
Noun
  • El-Sayed and Piker have professed their abhorrence of anti-Semitism.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • When human decency and basic civility fall victim to partisanship and ideology, and abhorrence of violence becomes tempered by political aims, monstrosities and tyrannies become possible.
    — Michael Bloomberg, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025
Definition of abhorrence
Noun
  • How Nelson is reformulated from one who feels desire to one who feels detestation (as well as shame for having desired) is the remarkable achievement of both the story and the storyteller and the system that requires it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Feb. 2026
  • One of the most memorable chapters epitomizes her detestation for the ultra-wealthy and pompous intellectuals who rushed to rationalize her work.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 20 Jan. 2024
Definition of detestation
Noun
  • But there was already a phobia about speaking Spanish in government settings or schools.
    — Michael Kiefer, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Clinically, phobias are considered anxiety disorders, but some researchers believe that everyone is a little trypophobic.
    — Gabriela Galvin, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of phobia

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Cite this Entry

“Anathema.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anathema. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on anathema

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about anathema

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