anti-spiritual
|an-ti-spir-i-tu-al|
/ˌæn.tiˈspɪr.ɪ.tʃu.əl/
against the spiritual
Etymology
'anti-spiritual' is a modern compound formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') plus 'spiritual' (from Latin 'spiritus' via Old French/Latin, meaning 'breath, spirit').
'spiritus' (Latin) → Old French/Anglo-Norman 'espirit'/'spirit' → Middle English 'spirit' → adjective 'spiritual'; the prefix 'anti-' was attached in Modern English to create compounds like 'anti-spiritual' to express opposition.
Originally, 'anti-' simply meant 'against' and 'spiritual' referred to matters of the spirit or soul; combined in modern usage they denote opposition to spiritual matters or attitudes.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
opposed to or rejecting spiritual beliefs, practices, or concerns; characterized by hostility or indifference toward spirituality.
The policy was criticized as anti-spiritual because it discouraged any discussion of faith in the workplace.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/23 16:08