as in prohibited
that may not be permitted
trespassing is forbidden
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in banned
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of forbidden
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025
The forbidden rice added a nice nuttiness and some extra heft, and juicy mandarin sections provided lovely pops of fruity sweetness.
—Lizzy Briskin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Dec. 2025
Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
And because Western insurers are forbidden from insuring them, tankers often operate with dubious Russian insurance, or no insurance at all.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbidden
Adjective
These range from the pages being discolored by demonic forces, or that the pages once contained forbidden texts, now removed.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025
The forbidden rice added a nice nuttiness and some extra heft, and juicy mandarin sections provided lovely pops of fruity sweetness.
—Lizzy Briskin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Dec. 2025
Verb
Several incidents in recent years have also seen unruly tourists trying to swim in or drink from the fountain, both of which are forbidden.
—Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
And because Western insurers are forbidden from insuring them, tankers often operate with dubious Russian insurance, or no insurance at all.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbidden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbidden
Adjective
-
There is, however, room for questions about where the line between prohibited and acceptable political involvement will fall in practice.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
-
The list of prohibited and restricted items, as found on the CBP website, includes alcohol, biological materials, firearms, food and produce such as fruits and vegetables, soil, wildlife, fish, and gold, among other items.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
That is consistent with a 2019 law that banned whale and dolphin captivity, though Marineland's animals were grandfathered in.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Some governments banned the service or issued warnings.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forbidden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbidden. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
