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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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
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Recent Examples of anathema
What is anathema in a conservative House district may be popular in a swing district, and vice versa.
—
Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 May 2025
Yet that very framing is anathema to the Chinese side—and likely to cause Beijing to disengage altogether.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 29 Apr. 2025
Polis also tried to expand the talks to include some of his priorities that were anathema to labor.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 6 May 2025
Accepting a prize named after Milton Friedman, the free-market economist, on Thursday, Mr. Koch made his first public remarks since Mr. Trump was inaugurated in January and enacted a number of policies that are anathema to Mr. Friedman’s and Mr. Koch’s politics, most notably the sweeping tariffs.
—Theodore Schleifer, New York Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for anathema
Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 May 2025
Yet that very framing is anathema to the Chinese side—and likely to cause Beijing to disengage altogether.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 29 Apr. 2025
Polis also tried to expand the talks to include some of his priorities that were anathema to labor.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 6 May 2025
Accepting a prize named after Milton Friedman, the free-market economist, on Thursday, Mr. Koch made his first public remarks since Mr. Trump was inaugurated in January and enacted a number of policies that are anathema to Mr. Friedman’s and Mr. Koch’s politics, most notably the sweeping tariffs.
—Theodore Schleifer, New York Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for anathema
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anathema
Noun
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Christopher Walken stars as a school teacher who comes out of a coma with a gift that feels more like a terrifying curse.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
23 May 2025
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While Rory McIlroy finally broke his 11-year curse to claim the green jacket, Bradley struggled, missing the cut with a 3-over-par.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
Noun
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Watch Prey on Hulu Predator The original Predator movie is set in the present day (which would be 1987) and follows a paramilitary rescue team who quickly discovers that rebel forces in the South American jungle aren’t their most dangerous enemy.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
6 June 2025
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As the resupply convoys approach the forward locations, they are frequently targeted and destroyed by enemy drones.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Authorities said that the attack is being investigated as a hate and terrorism crime.—
Susan Miller,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
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Luckily the hate is confirmation as to why stuff like this is gonna stay every year.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 June 2025
Noun
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The series was an abomination of epic scale for Miami, but one that maybe shouldn’t have shocked following a 37-45 regular season and 10th playoff seed that worked up in the play-in to No. 8.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2025
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And that would be an abomination – an abuse of power, and punishment against the weakest, most fragile and youngest in our country.—
Ailsa Chang,
NPR,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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That’s probably no longer the case given the Chinese government’s subtle antipathy for those who are pulling out or trying to minimize China.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
2 June 2025
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There was plenty of shock and disgust—and enthusiasm, too, from figures who shared West’s fascination with Hitler, or antipathy for Jews.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
15 May 2025
Noun
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Holly hits the road with the activist and brings along a gun, despite her deep need to be near her home and her abhorrence of weapons.—
Maren Longbella,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2025
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The reactions from right-of-center publications divide into roughly four camps, aligning on a spectrum ranging from vocal approval to outright abhorrence.—
Zack Beauchamp,
Vox,
7 Dec. 2018
Noun
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Pulse might even have to take Danny seriously, rather than turning her into a collection of traumas (daddy issues) and phobias (inexplicably afraid of pregnant women).—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2025
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But fire phobia only triggers panic, one that’s currently siphoning billions of tax dollars to log nearly every single national forest, state park, and county open space, likely only increasing the fire danger to communities.—
Josh Schlossberg,
The Denver Post,
22 Dec. 2024
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
Cite this Entry
“Anathema.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anathema. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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