Synonyms of forbidding

forbidding 1 of 3

adjective

1

as in terrifying

causing fear

a dark, forbidding house, that is reputed to be haunted

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terrifying
• frightening
• formidable
• scary
• horrible
• terrible
• intimidating
• fearful
• dread
• alarming
• shocking
• horrifying
• threatening
• eerie
• startling
• creepy
• trying
• dreadful
• ghastly
• frightful
• fearsome
• discouraging
• troubling
• eery
• dire
• redoubtable
• disturbing
• horrendous
• gruesome
• direful
• spine-chilling
• unnerving
• daunting
• hair-raising
• disconcerting
• perturbing
• demoralizing
• disquieting
• hideous
• weird
• distressing
• dismaying
• appalling
• nightmarish
• horrid
• grisly
• monstrous
• awful
• macabre
• bone-chilling
• atrocious
• grewsome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reassuring
• inviting
• comforting
• relaxing
• soothing
• calming
• consoling
• tranquilizing
• quieting
• nonthreatening
• tranquillizing
• lulling
• pacifying
• nonintimidating

2

as in gruff

harsh and threatening in manner or appearance

told us in a forbidding voice to stop calling him by that name

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gruff
• intimidating
• stern
• fierce
• grim
• hostile
• rugged
• bleak
• severe
• lowering
• stark
• austere
• rough
• dour
• cold
• dark
• flinty
• steely
• hardened
• louring
• ungentle
• somber
• stubborn
• inhospitable
• black
• unfriendly
• inimical
• solemn
• moody
• adamant
• resolute
• intent
• bound
• rigid
• wilful
• unsympathetic
• stiff
• determined
• obstinate
• unflinching
• uncompromising
• steadfast
• implacable
• willful
• inflexible
• resolved
• unrelenting
• unbending
• purposeful
• unyielding
• cheerless
• obdurate
• immovable
• hard
• serious
• unchangeable
• fixed
• gloomy
• firm
• immutable
• sombre
• sullen
• joyless
• surly
• melancholy
• brooding
• morose
• unsmiling
• set
• mulish
• sulky
• melancholic
• grave
• hardheaded
• staid
• humorless
• glum
• self-willed
• sober
• ironhanded
• weighty
• sobersided

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• benign
• mild
• gentle
• easy
• soft
• bland
• tender
• soothing
• benignant
• quiet
• mellow
• meek
• pleasant
• agreeable
• tranquil
• sweet
• inviting
• nonintimidating
• bright
• cheerful
• pleasing
• happy
• glad
• merry
• sunny
• silly
• frivolous
• playful
• lighthearted
• mirthful
• goofy
• giddy
• harebrained
• flighty
• scatterbrained
• featherbrained
• light-headed

forbidding

2 of 3

noun

as in prohibiting

the act of ordering that something not be done or used

the landlord's forbidding of loud music after 10:00 p.m.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prohibiting
• prohibition
• banning
• outlawing
• barring
• enjoining
• proscription
• proscribing
• interdiction
• suppression
• interdicting
• charging
• instruction
• bidding
• dictation
• decreeing
• direction
• discouragement
• deterrence
• repression
• dissuading
• coercion
• compulsion
• constraint
• force

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• permission
• approval
• allowance
• sanction
• toleration
• endorsement
• support
• license
• clearance
• authorization
• indorsement
• promotion
• sufferance
• encouragement
• compliance
• licence
• submission
• obedience

forbidding

3 of 3

verb

present participle of forbid

as in banning

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

smoking is forbidden throughout the building

we forbid you to see him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prohibiting
• banning
• outlawing
• preventing
• discouraging
• proscribing
• enjoining
• barring
• halting
• stopping
• excluding
• interdicting
• precluding
• restraining
• deterring
• curbing
• blocking
• quashing
• dissuading
• suppressing
• repressing
• rejecting
• disallowing
• silencing
• depriving
• subduing
• impeding
• quelling
• vetoing
• hindering
• inhibiting
• obstructing
• squelching
• shutting out
• checking
• ruling out
• repudiating
• crushing
• squashing
• debarring
• cracking down (on)
• embargoing
• clamping down (on)
• putting down
• bridling
• snuffing (out)
• reining (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• permitting
• allowing
• letting
• approving
• authorizing
• suffering
• endorsing
• sanctioning
• supporting
• promoting
• indorsing
• encouraging
• advancing
• warranting
• licensing
• furthering
• cultivating
• ordering
• commanding
• abetting
• forwarding
• nurturing
• nourishing
• enduring
• bidding
• tolerating
• bearing
• abiding
• licencing
• countenancing
• brooking