Synonyms of bars

bars 1 of 2

noun

plural of bar

1

as in beams

a straight piece (as of wood or metal) that is longer than it is wide

all of the prison's windows are partially covered with steel bars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beams
• boards
• rods
• sticks
• billets
• strips
• bands
• girders
• slabs
• crossbars
• ingots
• crossbeams
• arbors
• blooms

2

as in streaks

a line or long narrow section differing in color from the background

the cat had a bar of white down her throat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• streaks
• stripes
• bands
• crossbars
• pinstripes
• blazes

3

as in mounds

a pile or ridge of granular matter (as sand or snow)

more than one boater has run aground on that treacherous bar of sand in the river

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mounds
• banks
• drifts
• stacks
• tufts
• mountains
• masses
• heaps
• embankments
• sandbars
• hills
• snowdrifts
• snowbanks

4

as in pubs

a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises

a bar that serves meals as well as drinks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pubs
• taverns
• cafes
• saloons
• nightclubs
• cafés
• barrooms
• cantinas
• watering places
• taprooms
• gin mills
• cabarets
• watering holes
• dramshops
• grogshops
• bistros
• roadhouses
• public houses
• speakeasies
• alehouses
• brewpubs
• sports bars
• joints
• dives
• bottle clubs
• wineshops
• package stores
• barrelhouses

5

as in tribunals

an assembly of persons for the administration of justice

rather than try and convict the alleged murderer in the mass media, let justice be done at the bar

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tribunals
• courts
• benches
• courts of law
• fora
• judiciaries
• forums
• judicatures
• criminal courts
• judicatories
• high courts
• court-martials
• supreme courts
• courts-martial
• kangaroo courts
• inquisitions
• drumhead court-martials

6

as in obstacles

something that makes movement or progress difficult

the complication of the molecule is the biggest bar to reproducing it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obstacles
• hurdles
• obstructions
• barriers
• chains
• blocks
• embarrassments
• shackles
• loads
• interferences
• stops
• inhibitions
• lets
• impediments
• manacles
• constraints
• stumbling blocks
• cramps
• handicaps
• encumbrances
• burdens
• hindrances
• deterrents
• fetters
• clogs
• brakes
• trammels
• hitches
• crimps
• restraints
• holdbacks
• stone walls
• balks
• curbs
• brick walls
• dangers
• arrests
• delays
• snags
• rubs
• stalls
• blockades
• disadvantages
• drags
• stoppages
• reins
• hazards
• reefs
• blockages
• bits
• catches
• embargoes
• difficulties
• checks
• perils
• holdups
• hardships
• hobbles
• drawbacks
• cumbers
• adversities

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• incentives
• stimuli
• catalysts
• stimulants
• spurs
• edges
• advantages
• breaks
• benefits
• aids
• goads
• help
• impetuses
• assistances
• boosts
• handmaidens
• handmaids

7

as in standards

something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared

we need to raise the bar for what is acceptable behavior in this situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• standards
• criteria
• criterions
• benchmarks
• metrics
• measures
• touchstones
• barometers
• pars
• yardsticks
• examples
• grades
• norms
• rules
• gold standards
• instances
• marks
• cases
• pinnacles
• averages
• apices
• peaks
• summits
• apexes
• meridians
• zeniths
• acmes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deviations
• abnormalities
• aberrations

bars

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bar

1

as in stripes

to make stripes on

barred the fence with white strips

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stripes
• streaks
• bands
• blazes

2

as in prohibits

to order not to do or use or to be done or used

corporal punishment has long been barred in most public schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prohibits
• forbids
• bans
• outlaws
• prevents
• stops
• discourages
• proscribes
• halts
• blocks
• enjoins
• curbs
• interdicts
• excludes
• precludes
• deters
• restrains
• silences
• squashes
• rules out
• represses
• suppresses
• dissuades
• reins (in)
• shuts out
• rejects
• checks
• clamps down (on)
• deprives
• disallows
• subdues
• hinders
• cracks down (on)
• inhibits
• crushes
• debars
• vetoes
• quashes
• snuffs (out)
• embargoes
• impedes
• obstructs
• squelches
• bridles
• quells
• puts down
• repudiates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• permits
• allows
• lets
• sanctions
• approves
• suffers
• endorses
• licenses
• indorses
• supports
• authorizes
• orders
• warrants
• advances
• promotes
• encourages
• forwards
• commands
• bids
• nourishes
• licences
• bears
• brooks
• cultivates
• abets
• nurtures
• furthers
• tolerates
• endures
• abides
• countenances

3

as in bans

to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of

beach-goers are barred from walking in roped-off sections of the beach to protect nesting birds

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bans
• excludes
• eliminates
• prevents
• prohibits
• counts (out)
• debars
• rules out
• blocks
• excepts
• shuts out
• freezes out
• suspends
• banishes
• exiles
• expels
• closes one's doors to
• closes out
• precludes
• blacklists
• ostracizes
• deters
• blackballs
• hinders
• excommunicates
• deports
• obviates
• checks off
• wards (off)
• impedes
• obstructs
• combs (out)
• halts
• weeds (out)
• staves off
• ceases
• ousts
• throws out
• discontinues
• disregards

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• includes
• admits
• receives
• accepts
• welcomes
• embraces
• entertains
• takes in
• unbans

4

as in guards

to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point

the bikeway was barred by a huge fallen tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

• guards
• walls (off)
• blocks (off)
• barricades
• closes (off)
• blockades
• gates
• fences
• curtains (off)
• locks
• screens (off)
• dikes
• hedges
• obstructs
• bolts

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• opens
• unbars
• reopens
• unbolts
• unblocks

Phrases Containing bars

• behind bars