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
Why is school choice anathema to democrats?
—
Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2026
After all, the concept is considered antithetical or anathema to the Iranian Revolution, which deposed the monarchy led by the shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in 1979.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026
There, again, her ambition and dreams were stifled by her present-day reality, trapped in a body that was anathema to her.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 18 Feb. 2026
For months, perhaps years, the idea of trading the franchise icon was anathema in Wisconsin.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anathema
Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2026
After all, the concept is considered antithetical or anathema to the Iranian Revolution, which deposed the monarchy led by the shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in 1979.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026
There, again, her ambition and dreams were stifled by her present-day reality, trapped in a body that was anathema to her.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 18 Feb. 2026
For months, perhaps years, the idea of trading the franchise icon was anathema in Wisconsin.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anathema
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anathema
Noun
-
Curse or no curse, the @nyknicks have NO BUSINESS losing this series to the @ATLHawks — no matter how good that young team is.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The home crowd in hockey can be a blessing and a curse.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These are effective, but require attacks to be initiated from outside enemy airspace.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
-
People of faith are not so easily deterred from speaking truth to power, even to power unafraid to drop bombs on its enemies.—
Ciera Bates-Chamberlain,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Efforts to track groups whose hate might turn violent are further complicated by the nebulous, ever-shifting nature of extremism on social media.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
So far, no one has been arrested, but officials said a couple of cases have been documented as hate-crime investigations.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Civic spending in all but eight states testifies to the fact that the Lost Cause fantasy was not an aberration or an abomination, but the reality across the country.—
Horace D. Ballard,
Artforum,
22 Apr. 2026
-
While people sometimes express this view in jest, others believe the fake environment borders on a cultural abomination.—
Adam Kadlac,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The difference is Netflix had, at best, an antipathy towards the theatrical experience.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The president’s antipathy for Mueller was on full display throughout the course of the Russia investigation, with Mueller – whose tenure as FBI director ended well before Trump took office – brought out of retirement by Trump’s own Justice Department to serve as special counsel.—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These findings echo a broader pattern political scientists call affective polarization: the replacement of disagreement with abhorrence.—
Manvir Singh,
New Yorker,
27 Oct. 2025
-
When human decency and basic civility fall victim to partisanship and ideology, and abhorrence of violence becomes tempered by political aims, monstrosities and tyrannies become possible.—
Michael Bloomberg,
Twin Cities,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
How Nelson is reformulated from one who feels desire to one who feels detestation (as well as shame for having desired) is the remarkable achievement of both the story and the storyteller and the system that requires it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Feb. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Festivalgoers should expect petition endeavors aimed at mellowing out Idaho’s legal phobia about marijuana.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
16 Apr. 2026
-
His father has many food phobias and drug issues.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anathema.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anathema. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
