anathematize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of anathematize
1560–70; (< Middle French ) < Late Latin anathematizāre to put under the ban, curse, detest < Greek anathematízein to bind by a curse, make accursed, equivalent to anathemat- (stem of anáthema ) + -izein -ize
Explanation
The verb anathematize means to completely condemn, something you would do to a mortal enemy or a truly horrible person. If you've decided that your math teacher is just plain evil, you might anathematize him, or curse his name. The word anathematize comes from anathema, which means something you really hate. When you anathematize someone, you declare your hatred for that person. The root word is the Greek anathematizein, which means "to denote something to be evil."
Vocabulary lists containing anathematize
John Leonard on Doris Lessing's "Time Bites" and more
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Our Mutual Friend
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Nicholas Nickleby
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It is to Mr. Hale’s great credit that he refuses to anathematize the prodigal children in his book.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
Should we anathematize communication with half the population?
From Washington Post • Dec. 31, 2020
This became another reason to anathematize Golden Books, which were for decades shunned by library buyers.
From Slate • Jan. 12, 2017
This latter published the Henoticon, but expressly refused to anathematize the council of Chalcedon; on which account the rigid Eutychians separated themselves from his communion, and were called Acephali, or, without a head.
From The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints January, February, March by Butler, Alban
You grumbled at everything when you first came to California, and now that you have become philosophical like the rest of us, you only anathematize when you are put out.
From Ancestors A Novel by Atherton, Gertrude Franklin Horn
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
