anathema

[ uh-nath-uh-muh ]

noun

, plural a·nath·e·mas.

1. a person or thing detested or loathed:

   That subject is anathema to him.

2. a person or thing accursed or consigned to damnation or destruction.
3. a formal ecclesiastical curse involving excommunication.
4. any imprecation of divine punishment.
5. a curse; execration.

anathema

/ əˈnæθəmə /

noun

1. a detested person or thing

   he is anathema to me

2. a formal ecclesiastical curse of excommunication or a formal denunciation of a doctrine
3. the person or thing so cursed
4. a strong curse; imprecation

Word History and Origins

Origin of anathema¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin, from Greek: “a thing accursed, devoted to evil,” originally “devoted,” from ana(ti)thé(nai) “to set up” + -ma, noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of anathema¹

C16: via Church Latin from Greek: something accursed, dedicated (to evil), from anatithenai to dedicate, from ana- + tithenai to set

Example Sentences

It’s a way to expand his repertoire without resorting to the types of inefficient attempts that were anathema to the way he played with the Rockets.

From FiveThirtyEight

Authorities are working on the new codifications, which are partly aimed partly at curbing the sort of unpredictability that is anathema to business.

From Time

For investors who think in terms of fundamentals, what was happening with GameStop’s stock was a slap in the face — anathema to “the point” of the market.

From Washington Post

The industry was complicated and highly regulated, both anathema to private equity.

From ProPublica

With few exceptions, strict schedules are anathema to the development of a healthy gaming group.

From Time

After a few experiments I learned that I could skip those movies, and Tyler Perry was anathema in my book.

From The Daily Beast

American politics with its razzmatazz and movie stars were an anathema.

From The Daily Beast

In his opinion, the “path to citizenship” for immigrants, which is anathema to many conservatives, is absolutely essential.

From The Daily Beast

The occasional yellow or red was acceptable, but the suggestion of a blue dress was met with distress, and brown was anathema.

From The Daily Beast

Government regulations were not anathema to the market but requisite.

From The Daily Beast

He breathed fierce and honest anathema on the heads of the bowelless fiends who had abandoned the babe to its doom.

From Project Gutenberg

Every word she breathed, every anathema she denounced, seemed urged by the quick revenge of Duke Wharton!

From Project Gutenberg

Shrieking inarticulate anathema, he rushed downstairs, the man in the green baize apron following at his heels.

From Project Gutenberg

He waited until he was old and cold to hurl anathema against the human passions.

From Project Gutenberg

The anathema of the good bishop is pitched in many keys and sounds, like the collected utterances of many throats.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bane
• pariah