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

For a chancellor who, two decades ago, was seconded to the British embassy as an economist, during one of Argentina’s debt crises, it was an anathema.

From BBC

The decision to eradicate promotion and relegation in an organic way might be an anathema to British sports fans but this is one way of trying to improve standards and force clubs to think sustainably.

From BBC

From the Jeffersonian perspective, it was anathema to argue that government mail should not move to honor religious sensibilities, so they lost that battle.

From Salon

“In-your-face Catholicism” is anathema to this version of the Church.

From Salon

It was a horrific event and anathema to everything our country represents, and also a worrying sign of the dangers of political polarization combined with the proliferation of firearms in our country.

From Salon

Related Words

• bane
• pariah