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
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Recent Examples of anathema
The precocious Sun says he was captivated by the American tycoon’s lessons in cutthroat competition, showmanship and, of course, ego—anathema in a society steeped in the principles of Confucianism and Chinese socialism.
—
Chris Dobstaff, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Ultimately, Kosminsky had to solve the problem by shooting most of the show indoors to save on the costs that would accrue from trying to control the lighting of any outdoor environment, but having to sacrifice quality for budgetary reasons was anathema to his nature as a craftsperson.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 24 Mar. 2025
Moreover, his worldview, which is anathema to international law and multilateral organizations such as the United Nations, happens to be well-suited to nuclear realities.
—Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2025
The very thought of reducing government spending is anathema to progressives.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anathema
Chris Dobstaff, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Ultimately, Kosminsky had to solve the problem by shooting most of the show indoors to save on the costs that would accrue from trying to control the lighting of any outdoor environment, but having to sacrifice quality for budgetary reasons was anathema to his nature as a craftsperson.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 24 Mar. 2025
Moreover, his worldview, which is anathema to international law and multilateral organizations such as the United Nations, happens to be well-suited to nuclear realities.
—Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2025
The very thought of reducing government spending is anathema to progressives.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anathema
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anathema
Noun
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After turning undead and hiding her bite wound, Mary easily gets permission to re-enter the building, and quickly seduces Stack, before murdering him and infecting him with the vampire curse.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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Maybe that’s more blessing than curse in our age of baldly allegorical horror movies.—
A.A. Dowd,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Volunteer historians and re-enactors will share living history of a small portion of Napoleon’s French Grande Army and the empire’s enemies, Britain, Austria, Prussia and their allies, on campaign in Spain.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 May 2025
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All Cherry Mary wants is to pass her Commercial Driver’s License test and become a trucker — but after her family’s criminal enterprise makes the wrong enemies, when the test starts, the trouble begins.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The event showcased stories from survivors and from second, third and fourth-generation descendants who are continuing to educate the next generation on the consequences of hate.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2025
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The threat of terror continues because terror has existed as long as curiosity and fear, love and hate, light and dark—as long as the human heart has beat.—
Viet Thanh Nguyễn,
Time,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
-
In keeping with their distaste for regulations, Republicans and the broader conservative legal movement have long treated independent agencies as an abomination—and last month Trump sought to rein them in with an executive order that purported to bring them further under his direct control.—
Cristian Farias,
The New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But the party’s fortunes have since improved amid growing Canadian antipathy toward Trump and his policies.—
Olivia Kemp,
CNN,
14 Mar. 2025
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President-elect Donald Trump’s vow to enact mass deportations — and his famous antipathy toward Chicago — have girded local immigration activists for the immediate aftermath of his inauguration.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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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
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Tolin doesn’t candy coat the animosity, helping children to understand how artists and Others continue to be misunderstood and how that lack of appreciation fuels abhorrence.—
Natasha Gural,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Social anxiety, also known as social phobia, is an intense fear of social situations.—
Michelle Pugle,
Verywell Health,
22 Jan. 2025
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According to research, the fear of flying is one of the most prevalent phobias in the world.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 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
Cite this Entry
“Anathema.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anathema. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
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