1
as in to curse
to ask a divine power to send harm or evil upon
heretics anathematized by the church leaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to denounce
to declare to be morally wrong or evil
fundamentalist preachers who anathematize any departure from a literal interpretation of the Bible
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 anathematize
In a democracy, the question of what to do about climate change and for that matter the decision to anathematize entire sectors of the economy ought to be matters for voters not moneymen.
—
Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 9 Dec. 2020
Still, some people now reflexively anathematize this brilliant novel because its self-justifying, unreliable narrator is a pedophile.
—Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2020
The most serious native challenge to liberalism, made by the slaveholding oligarchy of the Old South, was crushed on the battlefield, and, despite the efforts of an ever-dwindling number of apologists, morally anathematized.
—Park MacDougald, Daily Intelligencer, 27 Feb. 2018
And if anyone shall be led by his cupidity or arrogance to break this truce, by the authority of God and with the sanction of this Council he shall be anathematized.
—James Carroll, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2017
In some ways, the grotesqueries of his persona, rather than anathematizing him to voters, only enhanced his appeal among those wishing for something different.
—Jamelle Bouie, Slate Magazine, 24 Jan. 2017
Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 9 Dec. 2020
Still, some people now reflexively anathematize this brilliant novel because its self-justifying, unreliable narrator is a pedophile.
—Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2020
The most serious native challenge to liberalism, made by the slaveholding oligarchy of the Old South, was crushed on the battlefield, and, despite the efforts of an ever-dwindling number of apologists, morally anathematized.
—Park MacDougald, Daily Intelligencer, 27 Feb. 2018
And if anyone shall be led by his cupidity or arrogance to break this truce, by the authority of God and with the sanction of this Council he shall be anathematized.
—James Carroll, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2017
In some ways, the grotesqueries of his persona, rather than anathematizing him to voters, only enhanced his appeal among those wishing for something different.
—Jamelle Bouie, Slate Magazine, 24 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anathematize
Verb
-
In that department, English clubs are, in a way, blessed and cursed by the Premier League’s spending rules.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Everything about it is horrible and cursed by the devil.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Hoffman, the lawmaker who was shot and wounded in June, and his family also issued a statement denouncing Kirk’s death.—
Mark Vancleave,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Online posts, including one shared by the Idaho Freedom Foundation, a far-right think tank, denounced Berriochoa and prompted calls to the Department of Labor and even former employers and educators of Berriochoa.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Republicans were unfazed by Democrats threatening to withhold their votes, accusing them of hypocrisy for condemning GOP efforts to win policy concessions in past funding battles.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Human rights groups, citing concerns over forced confessions, have condemned a wave of hundreds of arrests and warned that the government is using the June conflict as a pretext to escalate repression.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
More generally, the Nepalese public criticized the government’s measures disproportionate impact on ordinary users.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
-
In the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination, Republicans on Sunday criticized some Democrats, suggesting language used by them contributed to Kirk's killing, claims that Democrats rejected.—
Lalee Ibssa,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Delta blames a global IT outage last summer for its performance problems.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The author compromises our trust in his appeal — likely unconsciously — by his blaming only one side.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anathematize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anathematize. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share