Definitions
- Referring to the act of condemning someone or something as accursed or evil. - Used in religious contexts to denounce a person or idea as heretical or against the teachings of a particular faith. - Can be used in a secular context to express strong disapproval or rejection of a person or idea.
- Referring to the act of expelling someone from a religious community or organization. - Used in religious contexts to denote the severing of ties between a person and their faith community due to disobedience or heresy. - Can be used in a secular context to describe the act of ostracizing or shunning someone from a group or society.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words involve the act of cutting off ties or condemning someone.
- 2Both words have religious origins and can be used in a religious context.
- 3Both words carry a negative connotation and imply severe consequences.
- 4Both words are formal and not commonly used in everyday language.
What is the difference?
- 1Scope: Anathematize is broader and can be used to condemn ideas or things, while excommunicate is more specific to the expulsion of a person from a religious community.
- 2Severity: Excommunicate is generally considered more severe than anathematize as it involves the complete severing of ties with a religious community.
- 3Usage: Anathematize is less common and more formal than excommunicate, which is more widely used in religious contexts.
- 4Connotation: Anathematize implies a curse or condemnation, while excommunicate implies a separation or exclusion from a community.
Remember this!
Anathematize and excommunicate are both formal words that refer to the act of cutting off ties or condemning someone or something. However, anathematize is broader in scope and can be used to condemn ideas or things, while excommunicate specifically refers to the expulsion of a person from a religious community. Additionally, excommunicate is generally considered more severe than anathematize and is more commonly used in religious contexts.
