anathema
C2Formal/Literary
Definition
Meaning
Something or someone that is intensely disliked, cursed, or vehemently rejected.
A formal curse by a church authority; something considered the absolute opposite of one's principles; a person or thing regarded as utterly unacceptable or loathsome.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Originally a formal religious term denoting excommunication or a thing devoted to evil. Now most commonly used figuratively in secular contexts to express strong repugnance. While technically a noun, it often functions predicatively with 'to be' (e.g., 'That idea is anathema to me').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in UK writing, but the term is formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Strong, almost visceral sense of rejection based on principle, not just dislike. Carries a historical weight of formal condemnation.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but appears more often in opinion/editorial writing, political discourse, and academic critique than in everyday speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] be/become anathema to [Person/Group][Person/Group] consider/view/regard [Object] as anathemaVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(be) the/an anathema of/to something”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe policies or practices fundamentally opposed to corporate culture (e.g., 'Micromanagement is anathema to our philosophy of employee autonomy').
Academic
Describes theories or methodologies rejected by a particular school of thought (e.g., 'Reductionism is anathema to holistic approaches in sociology').
Everyday
Rare in casual talk. Might be used for strong personal aversions (e.g., 'For my health-conscious friend, fast food is anathema').
Technical
In theology/history, refers to a formal ecclesiastical curse or something accursed.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council voted to anathematise the heretical teachings.
- He was anathematised by the synod.
American English
- The council voted to anathematize the heretical teachings.
- He was anathematized by the synod.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (The noun is used predictively, not as a direct adjective.)
American English
- N/A (The noun is used predictively, not as a direct adjective.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The idea of working on weekends is anathema to most employees.
- For a chef, using frozen ingredients is anathema.
- His protectionist trade policies were anathema to the free-market advocates within the party.
- The very concept of censorship is anathema in a liberal democracy.
- The poet's later work, with its deliberate obscurity, was treated as anathema by critics who championed his earlier lyrical clarity.
- To the committed environmentalist, the new mining project was not just undesirable but an absolute anathema.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANAthema' sounds like 'a NATHan ema' — imagine a person named Nathan who is utterly shunned (excommunicated) by his community for his terrible ideas.
Conceptual Metaphor
REJECTION IS A CURSE / OPPOSING PRINCIPLES ARE ENEMIES.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not a direct equivalent of 'анафема' in modern secular use. The Russian word is almost exclusively religious. Using 'anathema' for a strong dislike in English is correct, but the reverse (using 'анафема' for secular dislike) sounds overly dramatic/archaic in Russian.
- Do not confuse with 'anesthesia' (анестезия).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective directly before a noun (*an anathema idea) instead of predicatively (the idea is anathema).
- Pronouncing it /ænəˈθiːmə/ (incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'academia'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'anathema' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though it's often treated as a mass noun. You can say 'His ideas were anathema' (mass) or 'His ideas were an anathema to them' (countable). The countable use often retains a stronger sense of a 'formal curse'.
No. 'Anathema' is a noun, not a gradable adjective. Use modifiers like 'absolute', 'complete', 'utter', or 'sheer' instead (e.g., 'That is complete anathema to me').
'Anathematize' (US) / 'Anathematise' (UK). It means to pronounce an anathema upon; curse. It is very formal and primarily used in religious or highly rhetorical contexts.
Very strong. It implies a rejection so profound it is based on core beliefs, principles, or identity. It's stronger than 'dislike' or 'disagree with' and suggests something is morally or fundamentally offensive.