anathema

[uh-nath-uh-muh]

noun

plural

anathemas 

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

The casual word “untitled” was pretty common in art, but it possesses an air of disinterest that seems anathema in the vicinity of a Therrien.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Self-consciousness and judgment—whether from yourself or other people—are anathema to flow, as is any form of distraction,” she writes.

Read more on Salon

Trades where you fork over 2 percent a year just to be in them were anathema.

Read more on Literature

For a movement centered on an “America First” economic philosophy that wants nothing to do with foreign imports — or alliances, for that matter — the very idea of getting discounted beef from Argentina is simply anathema.

Read more on Salon

“It was all based on stereotypes,” he said, and anathema to gay kids like himself who were teased for not being “manly” enough.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bane 
• pariah