anathematize
Declare officially accursed
To anathematize is to formally curse or condemn, especially in a religious context—to declare someone or something anathema.
The word carries ecclesiastical weight: churches historically anathematized heretics, cutting them off from the community of believers.
In broader use, it means to denounce vehemently: The critic anathematized the film as morally bankrupt.
The tone is always severe and formal.
Invoked harm through words
- damnMild expletive
- execrateDespise and denounce
- denouncePublicly declare wrongdoing
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
excommunicate · reprobate · castigate · vilify · decry · reproach · rebuke · impugn
Expel from church membership
- ostracizeExclude from a group
- exileBanishment from homeland
- expelRemove forcibly from membership
- shunDeliberately keep away
blacklist · proscribe · outcast · ban · disown · repudiate · relegate · purge
Arousing intense disgust
- detestableWorthy of intense dislike
- odiousExtremely unpleasant, repellent
- abominableExtremely hateful or disgusting
- execrableExtremely bad, despicable
repugnant · hateful · despicable · vile · accursed · unholy · forbidden · taboo
Formal barring from sacraments
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
- hereticChallenger of official doctrine
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
- apostateOne who renounces faith
interdict · papal · ecclesiastical · synod · doctrine · heterodox · schism · infidel
Spoken wish for harm
- damnationEternal punishment decree
- hexMalevolent incantation
- execrationSpoken expression of hatred
- spellArrange letters correctly
jinx · bane · hoodoo · enchantment · incantation · invoke · ritual · oath
curse
Invoked harm through words
censure · excommunicate · reprobate · castigate · vilify · decry · reproach · rebuke · impugn · stigmatize
excommunicate
Expel from church membership
shun · blacklist · proscribe · outcast · ban · disown · repudiate · relegate · purge · boycott
loathsome
Arousing intense disgust
- detestableWorthy of intense dislike
- odiousExtremely unpleasant, repellent
- abominableExtremely hateful or disgusting
execrable · repugnant · hateful · despicable · vile · accursed · unholy · forbidden · taboo · reviled
excommunication
Formal barring from sacraments
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
- hereticChallenger of official doctrine
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
apostate · interdict · papal · ecclesiastical · synod · doctrine · heterodox · schism · infidel · unbeliever
imprecation
Spoken wish for harm
- damnationEternal punishment decree
- hexMalevolent incantation
- execrationSpoken expression of hatred
spell · jinx · bane · hoodoo · enchantment · incantation · invoke · ritual · oath
- disapprovaldisapproval, scowl, disapprove, disapproves, frown
- scoldingscold, scolding, rebuke, berate, reprimand
- worship verbspray, bless, anoint, baptize, consecrate