variants
also tabu
as in forbidden
that may not be permitted
asking a guest how much money he or she makes is strictly taboo because it's a rude question to ask a stranger
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also tabu
1
as in prohibition
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in anathema
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taboo
Ali Martin, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2025
What had once been an absolutely off-limits, taboo offense was not just okay, but cool.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2025
Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2025
But Syria’s longstanding taboo against discussing sectarian identity now seemed to be fading every day.
—Nanna Heitmann, New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for taboo
Adjective
So even certain kinds of trade become taboo and controversial, and some impossible.
—Ali Martin, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2025
What had once been an absolutely off-limits, taboo offense was not just okay, but cool.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
The geopolitical power that the United States wields makes the idea of an American pope taboo, according The Associated Press.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2025
But Syria’s longstanding taboo against discussing sectarian identity now seemed to be fading every day.
—Nanna Heitmann, New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for taboo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taboo
Adjective
-
Interpretations of the Torah, as well as associations with the Holocaust, have led tattoos to long be considered forbidden or taboo within Judaism, though contemporary attitudes towards it have somewhat shifted.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Thompson, Ha and Brownell also say that Season 4 will dive much more into the Regency era’s upstairs-downstairs class politics than previous seasons, due to Sophie being of a lower class than Benedict and the Bridgerton family, as well as the fairytale and forbidden love tropes.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Trump retaliated by announcing punishing tariffs and a sweeping prohibition on U.S. visas for Colombian officials.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
8 May 2025
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Like DeSantis, state legislators in support of the prohibition called it a matter of personal choice and pointed out that most toothpastes and many mouthwashes contain fluoride.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
Polis also tried to expand the talks to include some of his priorities that were anathema to labor.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
6 May 2025
-
Accepting a prize named after Milton Friedman, the free-market economist, on Thursday, Mr. Koch made his first public remarks since Mr. Trump was inaugurated in January and enacted a number of policies that are anathema to Mr. Friedman’s and Mr. Koch’s politics, most notably the sweeping tariffs.—
Theodore Schleifer,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
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
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For example, Customs and Border Protection in the United States maintains a list of prohibited and restricted items for anyone entering the US and links to other departments if permits are required.—
Erica Kasper,
WIRED,
21 Aug. 2024
Noun
-
Nomo’s no-no in Coors Field is still one of the most spectacular feats by a pitcher.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
-
Cuddling encourages intimacy, which is a no-no with your FWB.—
Jennifer Adams,
StyleCaster,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The series was an abomination of epic scale for Miami, but one that maybe shouldn’t have shocked following a 37-45 regular season and 10th playoff seed that worked up in the play-in to No. 8.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2025
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Jamal Murray goes supernova, Nikola Jokic trails in MVP race and the All-Star Weekend abomination In the latest Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene days after a dreadful NBA All-Star Game.—
The Denver Post,
The Denver Post,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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By more than doubling the cost of each other’s goods, the two nations were effectively initiating embargoes against each other, says Brett House, an economics professor at Columbia Business School.—
Laurent Belsie,
Christian Science Monitor,
12 May 2025
-
The de facto trade embargo between the world’s two largest economies had produced domestic and global economic pressure that appeared on the brink of calamity.—
Phil Mattingly,
CNN Money,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
These opposition movements shared one common goal: exposing the fallacies of the communist perversion of truth.—
Andrew Nagorski,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Nov. 2012
-
Remember, 2,800 men participated in this inhumane perversion.—
Wendy Murphy,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taboo. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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