a
na
the
ma
Plural
anathemas
1
a formal church curse officially excluding a person from a religious community
- The heretic was declared anathema by the council.
- In medieval Europe, anathema was considered the gravest of punishments.
- The pope pronounced anathema on those who defied church law.
- Breaking the sacred oath led to immediate anathema.
- The decree of anathema barred him from all sacraments.
2
something that is gravely hated and disapproved of
- Lying was an anathema to her strict moral code.
- The idea of cheating was an anathema to him.
- For some, the concept of war is an anathema.
- The new policy was an anathema to the company's values.
- Pollution is an anathema to environmentalists.
Synonyms: