interdict

noun in·ter·dict \ ˈin-tər-ˌdikt \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

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Examples: interdict in a Sentence

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Definition of interdict

1 : a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical censure withdrawing most sacraments and Christian burial from a person or district

2 : a prohibitory decree

See interdict defined for kids

Examples of interdict in a Sentence

the church's controversial interdict against the use of birth control devices

Recent Examples of interdict from the Web

South African Revenue Service Commissioner Tom Moyane will seek a legal interdict against Cyril Ramaphosa if the president does not stop trying to remove him from the tax agency, according to people familiar with the matter.

— paul vecchiatto, Bloomberg.com, "South Africa Tax Chief Threatens Legal Action Over Job," 19 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'interdict.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Interdict and interdiction are used for very serious prohibitions—more serious than, say, a professor telling the class that texting is forbidden during lectures. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, an interdict was a sentence imposed by the powerful Catholic Church forbidding a person or place, and sometimes even an entire country, from receiving church privileges or participating in church functions. Interdict now often means "cut off" in a physically forceful way as well; interdictions are usually targeted at either arms supplies or illegal drug shipments.

Origin and Etymology of interdict

Middle English, alteration of entredite, from Anglo-French, from Latin interdictum prohibition, from neuter of interdictus, past participle of interdicere to interpose, forbid, from inter- + dicere to say — more at diction

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First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

interdict Synonyms

interdict

verb in·ter·dict \ ˌin-tər-ˈdikt \

Definition of interdict

interdicted; interdicting; interdicts

transitive verb

1 : to lay under or prohibit by an interdict

2 : to forbid in a usually formal or authoritative manner

3 a : to destroy, damage, or cut off (something, such as an enemy line of supply) by firepower to stop or hamper an enemy

b : intercept 2a

interdict drug shipments

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interdiction

play \ˌin-tər-ˈdik-shən\ noun

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interdictive

play \ˌin-tər-ˈdik-tiv\ adjective

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interdictor

play \ˌin-tər-ˈdik-tər\ noun

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interdictory

play \ˌin-tər-ˈdik-t(ə-)rē\ adjective

Examples of interdict in a Sentence

the state legislature moved to interdict the use of radar-detection devices by motorists
federal agents are able to interdict only a small percentage of the narcotic shipments into the country

Recent Examples of interdict from the Web

In the Senate, the drug distributor AmerisourceBergen has waded into a debate about whether expanding the DEA’s authority would help interdict some suspicious drug shipments and ultimately help curb the opioid crisis.

— lev facher, STAT, "As opioids legislation gains steam, efforts to address crisis collide with moneyed interests," 7 June 2018
The reversal of the ban represented a rare contradiction by Lebanon's government of a ruling by the country's censorship committee to interdict a film.

— Washington Post, "World Digest: Jan. 17, 2018," 17 Jan. 2018
In the budget year that ended on Sept. 30, El Centro agents apprehended 18,633 undocumented immigrants and interdicted 5,554 pounds of marijuana, 483 pounds of cocaine and 1,526 pounds of methamphetamines.

— carl prine, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Initial deployment of California troops arrive at the border," 14 May 2018
The troops will provide Border Patrol with surveillance of the river from the ground and the air, but will not apprehend immigrants or interdict drug trafficking operations.

— San Antonio Express-News, "Abbott calls cross-border activity disturbing and dangerous," 12 Apr. 2018
But Israel’s desire to prevent Iran from establishing an overland supply line through Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon would require United States forces to interdict Iran’s efforts.

— david m. halbfinger, New York Times, "Netanyahu, Under Fire at Home, Seeks a Warm Embrace in U.S.," 3 Mar. 2018
Neilsen said that only about two pounds of illicit fentanyl were seized by Customs and Border Protection in 2013; in 2017, the agency interdicted 1,485 pounds of fentanyl.

— katie zezima, Washington Post, "President Trump suggests executing drug dealers at summit on opioid crisis," 1 Mar. 2018
The report did not say which country interdicted the two January tile shipments or whether the other three shipments were delivered to Damascus.

— michael schwirtz, Anchorage Daily News, "U.N. links North Korea to Syria’s chemical weapon program," 27 Feb. 2018
Crucial evidence of that was found in January 2017, when two ships carrying acid-resistant tiles, commonly used in the construction of chemical weapons factories, were interdicted at sea en route to Damascus, the report said.

— michael schwirtz, Anchorage Daily News, "U.N. links North Korea to Syria’s chemical weapon program," 27 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of interdict

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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interdict Synonyms

Synonyms

ban, bar, enjoin, forbid, outlaw, prohibit, proscribe;

Antonyms

allow, let, permit, suffer;

Near Antonyms

approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction;

authorize, license (also licence), warrant;

abet, advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, further, nourish, nurture, promote, support;

bid, command, order;

abide, bear, brook, countenance, endure, tolerate;

Related Words

deter, discourage, dissuade;

clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash, quell, repress, silence, snuff (out), squash, squelch, subdue, suppress;

halt, preclude, prevent, stop;

embargo, exclude, rule out, shut out;

debar, deprive, disallow, reject, repudiate, veto;

bridle, check, curb, inhibit, rein (in), restrain;

block, hinder, impede, obstruct;

Synonym Discussion of interdict

forbid, prohibit, interdict, inhibit mean to debar one from doing something or to order that something not be done. forbid implies that the order is from one in authority and that obedience is expected.

- smoking is forbidden in the building

prohibit suggests the issuing of laws, statutes, or regulations.

- prohibited the sale of liquor

interdict implies prohibition by civil or ecclesiastical authority usually for a given time or a declared purpose.

- practices interdicted by the church

inhibit implies restraints or restrictions that amount to prohibitions, not only by authority but also by the exigencies of the time or situation.

- conditions inhibiting the growth of free trade

Medical Dictionary

interdict

noun in·ter·dict \ ˈint-ər-ˌdikt \

medical Definition of interdict

civil law

: one who has been determined to be incompetent to care for his or her own person or affairs (as by reason of mental incapacity)

Law Dictionary

interdict

noun in·ter·dict \ ˈin-tər-ˌdikt \

legal Definition of interdict

1 : something that prohibits

2 : one that has been interdicted — compare ward

interdict

transitive verb in·ter·dict \ ˌin-tər-ˈdikt \

legal Definition of interdict

1 in the civil law of Louisiana : to deprive (a person) of the right to care for one's own person or affairs because of mental incapacity — compare commit, curator, tutor

2 : to authoritatively prohibit or bar (an act or conduct)

3 : to intercept or cut off (as a drug shipment) by force