anti-church

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a noun

   Opposed to a church or to churches in general, especially to their power or influence.

   Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: anti-church feeling, an anti-church stance.

   Patterns

   • anti-church feeling
   • anti-church stance
   • anti-church movement

   The new law sparked anti-church protests across the country.

   His anti-church views made him unpopular with local religious leaders.

   The party adopted an anti-church stance during the election.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Hostile to a particular church or its teachings.

   Grammar: Often used with a specific church: anti-church of England, anti-church policy.

   Patterns

   • anti-church of England
   • anti-church policy
   • anti-church sentiment

   The group published an anti-church pamphlet criticizing the bishops.

   Her anti-church remarks offended many in the congregation.

   They were accused of anti-church bias in their reporting.

Common combinations

anti-church feeling

Anti-church feeling grew after the scandal.

anti-church stance

The candidate took an anti-church stance to win secular votes.

anti-church movement

The anti-church movement gained followers in the 19th century.

anti-church policy

The government's anti-church policy closed several monasteries.

Synonyms and how they differ

anticlerical

More formal and often refers to opposition to clergy influence in politics, not to churches as buildings.

antireligious

Broader: opposed to all religion, not just churches.

Opposites

Word family

church noun

A building for Christian worship or the institution itself.

churchy adjective

Informal, often disapproving: too closely associated with the church.

Commonly confused: anti-church or antic?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “anti-church”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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