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prohibitive

adjective

pro·​hib·​i·​tive prō-ˈhi-bə-tiv How to pronounce prohibitive (audio)
prə-
Synonyms of prohibitivenext
1
: tending to prohibit or restrain
2
: tending to preclude use or purchase
prohibitive costs
3
: almost certain to perform as predicted
a prohibitive favorite
prohibitively adverb
prohibitiveness noun

Examples of prohibitive in a Sentence

the prohibitive cost of rent
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Porto’s Samu Aghehowa, the 21-year-old striker, is viewed as an exciting prospect, though his likely asking price may prove prohibitive. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025 Not only that, they could be sent on missions that would today be prohibitive because of the risk of losing an expensive plane – not to mention its pilot. New Atlas, 29 Nov. 2025 Awarding this project helps ATM Virtual support innovative, ambitious genre filmmaking and allows filmmakers to execute grand visual ideas that might otherwise be budget-prohibitive. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 22 Nov. 2025 If vendors were to try to make it domestically, the mere cost of moving the manufacturing operations would be prohibitive — let alone actually producing the trees. Brian Cheung, NBC news, 12 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prohibitive

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prohibitive was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Prohibitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prohibitive. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

prohibitive

adjective
pro·​hib·​i·​tive prō-ˈhib-ət-iv How to pronounce prohibitive (audio)
: likely to discourage use or purchase
prohibitive prices
prohibitively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on prohibitive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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