1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a dark, forbidding house, that is reputed to be haunted
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2
as in intimidating
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
told us in a forbidding voice to stop calling him by that name
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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.
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forbidding
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
California’s booming economy is one of the world’s largest, but a peek behind the curtain exposes the forbidding reality of a statewide job market that is ranked as one of the nation’s worst.
—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
7 Feb. 2026
Susan Page,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Jennifer A. Dlouhy,
Fortune,
24 May 2026
In 1994 Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was also a cleric with the rank of ayatollah, issued a fatwa forbidding the practice of self-flagellation.
—
Charles Preston,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbidding
Adjective
Reams of barbed wire gathered from the fields around Penpont were fashioned into a mesh curtain whose ends wrapped around two columns at the top of the museum’s grand staircase; the result was both alluring and forbidding.
—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
California’s booming economy is one of the world’s largest, but a peek behind the curtain exposes the forbidding reality of a statewide job market that is ranked as one of the nation’s worst.
—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
But Cheney rarely tried to combat the image painted by critics and comedians of him as a dour partisan, dark and forbidding.
—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
Developing oil in Alaska’s Arctic is a forbidding challenge, requiring complex logistics and specialized equipment.
—
Jennifer A. Dlouhy,
Fortune,
24 May 2026
In 1994 Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was also a cleric with the rank of ayatollah, issued a fatwa forbidding the practice of self-flagellation.
—
Charles Preston,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbidding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbidding
Adjective
-
The full extent of the casualties and damage may not be clear for many hours, but reports and videos show extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure across the country as residents face a terrifying night in the streets.
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Then the assailant turns to face the camera; but inside a hoodie, the face is no face, just a terrifying horror movie mask.
Adjective
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The caps, made from real bear skin, are a distinctive part of the military uniform, designed to make troops appear taller and more intimidating.
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The one witness everyone in the courtroom remembers was Watkins, an intimidating presence with the build of an NFL defensive tackle.
Noun
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The company could not secure an exception to the state’s prohibition of the storage of high-level radioactive waste from out of state.
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The prohibition against living people appearing on currency dates to 1866, when Congress took action after a Treasury official, Spencer Clark, printed his face on banknotes.
Verb
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The shelter has now implemented clear guidance to rescue partners prohibiting the transfer of dogs to organizations that do not meet shelter standards, including those under active investigation or without current nonprofit status.
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Many schools around the country are already prohibiting mobile phone use over concerns.
Adjective
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The hypocrisy is stunning, and frightening.
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Yes, the Scots played poorly, but Brazil’s brilliant roster of attacking talent capitalized on mistakes with frightening efficiency.
Adjective
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Abraham Lincoln furiously scribbled in Springfield on June 27, 1858, firing off a gruff note to the editor-in-chief of the Chicago Press & Tribune, then in business for only 11 years.
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But Rose bet that a less gruff voice, ultimately Mike Brown’s, was required to win it all.
Noun
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The talk was organized by local synagogues and the Chattanooga Jewish Federation in response to the banning of the novel by a nearby Tennessee school district a month prior.
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The reforms led to the creation of the forward pass and the banning of dangerous formations.
Verb
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Players will still be able to cover their mouths when conversing normally, but outlawing the act during disagreements is designed to remove plausible deniability for any player accused of making discriminatory remarks while their mouth is obscured.
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Legal experts say the latest ruling is different, functionally outlawing cash bail in most cases, and strictly capping the amount in others.
Cite this Entry
“Forbidding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbidding. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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