forbidding

forbidding

adjective

Definition of FORBIDDING

1

: such as to make approach or passage difficult or impossible <forbidding walls>

2

: disagreeable, repellent <a forbidding task>

3

: grim, menacing <a dark forbidding sky>

— for·bid·ding·ly \-ˈbi-diŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of FORBIDDING

1. a harsh and forbidding landscape
2. <a dark, forbidding house, that is reputed to be haunted>

First Known Use of FORBIDDING

1599

Related to FORBIDDING

Synonyms

alarming, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearsome, fearful, formidable, frightening, frightful, ghastly, hair-raising, horrendous, horrible, horrifying, intimidating, redoubtable, scary, shocking, spine-chilling, terrible, terrifying

Antonyms

benign, benignant, gentle, mild, nonintimidating, tender

Related Words

daunting, demoralizing, disconcerting, discouraging, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, startling, threatening, troubling, trying, unnerving; bone-chilling, creepy, eerie (also eery), weird; appalling, atrocious, awful, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), hideous, horrid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish

Near Antonyms

calming, comforting, consoling, inviting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, reassuring, relaxing, soothing, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing); nonintimidating, nonthreatening