Anathema

Sunday, June 15, 2025
Word of the Day

What is Anathema?

noun
Something or someone that is intensely disliked or loathed; a formal curse or excommunication.

Pronunciation

US pronunciation: /əˈnæθ.ə.mə/
UK pronunciation: /əˈnæθ.ə.mə/
Slow pronunciation: uh-NATH-uh-muh

Meaning Explained

Anathema describes something that evokes total rejection — either emotionally (deep hatred or disgust) or institutionally (religious or moral condemnation). It is a word of intensity, finality, and often outrage.

Why This Word?

Chosen for its dramatic weight and layered meanings — from spiritual exile to cultural taboo.

Examples of Use

Here's how this word appears in everyday language:

  • Corruption was anathema to her values as a public servant.
  • The doctrine was declared anathema by the council.
  • He found the very idea of censorship to be anathema to creativity.

Word Origins

Greek anathema meaning “a thing devoted” (originally neutral, later “accursed”)

In early Christian texts, it referred to formal excommunication or a person cursed by the Church.

First appearance in English: 5th century

Word Family

Related forms of this word:

  • Noun: excommunication

    The priest faced excommunication after the scandal.

  • Noun: curse

    The curse was considered anathema by the entire village.

  • Noun: taboo

    Speaking of the war was a cultural taboo.

Around the World

How this word appears in other languages:

  • Spanish: anatema
  • French: anathème
  • German: Gräuel
  • Italian: anatema
  • Portuguese: anátema

If you Already Know This Word

If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:

Pariah

“Pariah” is a social outcast; “anathema” is something actively reviled or condemned.

Blasphemy

“Blasphemy” is offense against the sacred; “anathema” is full rejection or curse.

Abomination

“Abomination” is morally revolting; “anathema” has a formal or spiritual condemnation.

Fun Facts

  • “Anathema sit” (“let him be cursed”) was a formal phrase used in medieval Church councils.
  • The original Greek meaning was neutral — “a thing set apart” — before it took on its darker connotation.

Cultural Usage

  • In early Christianity, “anathema” denoted a formal act of exclusion or spiritual damnation.
  • Writers use “anathema” to convey total rejection — often tied to betrayal or identity.

Common Mistakes

Often confused with “pariah” or “taboo”; “anathema” includes deeper historical, emotional, or doctrinal force.

Micro Story

To a lifelong pacifist, war in any form was anathema.