anathema
Something that one absolutely and positively cannot stand is anathema. Garlic is anathema to vampires (ditto for stakes and daylight). So is kryptonite to Superman or a silver bullet to a werewolf.
Originally the term anathema comes from the Catholic practice of denouncing a particular individual or idea that was antithetical to the Catholic Church. If done to a person, it excommunicated them, meaning they could no longer partake in the church’s sacraments (with presumably pretty poor consequences for the soul.) That’s a lot worse than kryptonite.
Definitions of anathema
a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication
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type of:
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condemnation, curse, execrationan appeal to some supernatural power to inflict evil on someone or some group
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condemnation, curse, execration
a detested person
“he is an
anathema to me”-
synonyms:
bete noire-
type of:
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disagreeable person, unpleasant persona person who is not pleasant or agreeable
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disagreeable person, unpleasant person
something that inspires dislike; something horrible
Word Family