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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 anathema
This tenant was fully aware that, for many people in New York, even walking through the door to a Trump building is anathema.
—
Paula Aceves, Curbed, 31 Oct. 2024
For many Israelis still traumatized by the Oct. 7 massacre, the concept is anathema as well.
—Dina Kraft, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Oct. 2024
This kind of urgent, ruthless efficiency is anathema to the public sector.
—Greg Orme, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
David Greene, Civil Liberties Director, EFF Book bans violate fundamental First Amendment values and are anathema to the founding principles of U.S. democracy.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for anathema 
Paula Aceves, Curbed, 31 Oct. 2024
For many Israelis still traumatized by the Oct. 7 massacre, the concept is anathema as well.
—Dina Kraft, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Oct. 2024
This kind of urgent, ruthless efficiency is anathema to the public sector.
—Greg Orme, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
David Greene, Civil Liberties Director, EFF Book bans violate fundamental First Amendment values and are anathema to the founding principles of U.S. democracy.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for anathema
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anathema
Noun
-
The verdict: Its flavor was nothing short of despicably vile, which made Orly’s nail-biting polish both a gift and a curse along my journey to end my bad habit.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
30 Jan. 2025
-
The long-standing curse of the new-music concert is a tendency toward miscellany.—
Alex Ross,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Some of the soldiers whom Chernov follows into battle remain gung-ho about defeating the enemy, though others, like the filmmaker himself, voice fears that there’s no end in sight.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2025
-
While past presidents were somewhat willing to work with political rivals or enemies, Trump has always put a greater emphasis on loyalty.—
William Gavin,
Quartz,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
And across the industry, companies have shrunk teams whose entire job was to ensure the safety of their platforms, including from people who seek to foment hate and violence.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN,
23 Jan. 2025
-
As much or more than anyone else, tech zealots who made their fortunes in the industry have to answer for our political climate of brazen corruption and cheap, viral, reactionary hate.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The aesthetic hews more closely to the look of the comic strip than the CGI-animation/live-action abomination of the two Garfield movies of the early aughts.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
24 May 2024
-
New York then strung together its third consecutive poor second half: The Knicks lost the final two quarters, 63-41, in Oklahoma City and 76-54 in Chicago, before Monday night’s 50-43 second-half abomination at home.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
This antipathy came to a violent head on Jan. 9, 1964.—
Rolando Arrieta,
NPR,
29 Dec. 2024
-
During Donald Trump’s first four years in office, Kennedy Center officials were forced to walk a public tightrope between the tradition of the president attending the ceremony and the open antipathy toward Trump from multiple honorees.—
Ashraf Khalil and Will Weissert,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
What distinguishes the extreme far-left from the far-right, however, is an abhorrence for meaningless violence, death and terrorism — at least against people, anti-fascists and experts on the movement told USA TODAY.—
Will Carless,
USA TODAY,
5 Jan. 2025
-
However, the Grinch is known for his abhorrence of Christmas and everything the season represents.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Detroit Free Press,
5 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Arachnophobia, the clinical term for a , is one of the world's most common phobias.—
Jack Beresford,
Newsweek,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Sad to say, each of these phobias have been exploited by corporate and government interests to cut down forests in a cynical ploy to tame wild nature.—
Josh Schlossberg,
The Denver Post,
22 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Much of Trump’s detestation of the Hollywood establishment is of course performative, one more nemesis to cast in his Sorkinian screenplay.—
Steven Zeitchik,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019
-
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
Articles Related to anathema
Thesaurus Entries Near anathema
Cite this Entry
“Anathema.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anathema. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share