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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of anathema
At the same time, AIPAC, which Lang targeted, has become anathema in both parties as support for Israel has plummeted in recent years.
—
Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Maduro is an authoritarian and a blight to the Venezuelan people, certainly, but this administration is hardly one that finds all autocrats anathema.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Nor would a coalition of immigrants, renters and activists so devoted to a foreign policy position anathema to the national imperial agenda have been able to coalesce around someone who could, in theory, be president someday.
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
For others in the industry, though, the very phrase is anathema.
—James Vincent, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anathema
Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Maduro is an authoritarian and a blight to the Venezuelan people, certainly, but this administration is hardly one that finds all autocrats anathema.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Nor would a coalition of immigrants, renters and activists so devoted to a foreign policy position anathema to the national imperial agenda have been able to coalesce around someone who could, in theory, be president someday.
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
For others in the industry, though, the very phrase is anathema.
—James Vincent, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anathema
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anathema
Noun
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In the preview, it was mentioned that Leon has something called the Umbrella curse.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
-
In the 2002 comedy, McAdams plays a catty teen who's turned into, yep, Saturday Night Live alum Schneider, via a curse.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Calling out corporate entities and concentration of power as enemies also appears to be a winning strategy for Democrats in their messaging tactics.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Liverpool were their own worst enemy as their hopes of Champions League qualification suffered another blow.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Push back on hate, let love abide.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
7 Feb. 2026
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As fans became critics, as hate replaced adoration, Dent shut down, his coach at Centennial High, Joshua Giles, described to the Southern California News Group.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Orthodox Jews viewed the pop-up novelty with its mixed troupes as an abomination, but young female actors and singers embraced the emancipatory promise of the stage.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
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This second half of Godzilla’s nearly 70-year history is a towering showcase of how versatile Godzilla is; a character who can be a hero, villain, or even eldritch abomination — to mixed results.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Fanning the flames of the drama was the mutual antipathy between the couples.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
26 Jan. 2026
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The stability in the Wing’s leadership comes as much of the theater industry – in New York and across the country – continues to grapple with the fallout of the Covid pandemic and shutdown, rising production costs and the Trump Administration’s antipathy towards government arts funding.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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These findings echo a broader pattern political scientists call affective polarization: the replacement of disagreement with abhorrence.—
Manvir Singh,
New Yorker,
27 Oct. 2025
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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
Noun
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Between the lines: Many undecideds are painfully trying to balance their sense of obligation with their detestation for Trump, as USA Today first detailed on Thursday.—
Erin Doherty,
Axios,
14 Dec. 2024
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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
Noun
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Beyond needle phobia or the physical discomfort of injections, convenience is a key reason people may be interested in switching to the Wegovy pill.—
Sean Hashmi,
EverydayHealth.com,
16 Jan. 2026
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The circumstances made the role ill-suited to Bennett, and everyone knew that Shawn was beset by phobias.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anathema.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anathema. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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