BANNED Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

banned 1 of 2

adjective

as in prohibited

that may not be permitted at one time books, movies, and plays could use "banned in Boston" as a selling point

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

banned

2 of 2

verb

past tense of ban

as in outlawed

to order not to do or use or to be done or used the company absolutely bans smoking within its buildings

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in excluded

to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of the university banned those caught in the cheating scandal from graduation ceremonies

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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 banned

Verb

The British government banned the group in July 2025, proscribing it as a terrorist organization. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 The university said the person of interest is not a student or affiliated with the university but has been banned from campus. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 And by the way, every last one of these flock cameras needs to be banned on a federal level. — Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026 On July 8, Russia banned diesel exports after Ukraine struck its refineries. — Gabriel Cortés, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026 The carrier banned him from flying, sent him to a deradicalization program, and gave him a desk job. — Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 More than two decades ago, a new music genre began to take shape in Cuba — and was promptly banned. — Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026 Single-use plastics are banned, and waste is sorted for recycling. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 There were places in the UK that banned it, councils that refused to allow it to be played. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for banned

Adjective

Their alternating stories portray a Europe that exploits gifted children, while rigid class and gender expectations leave both protagonists struggling to pursue forbidden ambitions.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
As a forbidden attraction grows between the two men, tragedy unleashes supernatural forces upon their deeply religious community.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of forbidden

Verb

Claims that cotton in a particular product came from a specific farm or grower are also prohibited.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
The suspect who allegedly had the weapon was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, police said, adding that they were booked on multiple charges.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of prohibited

Verb

Big Walk’s co-op multiplayer walking adventure has proved popular since launching in August, but Xbox players have been excluded from the fun — and now the game’s creators have explained why.

— Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026
Two hours of texting a close friend, exploring an interest or scrolling through content that leaves a teen feeling excluded all register the same on a dashboard.

— Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of excluded

Verb

Livestream announcement a surprise to some Army officials Public executions were gradually outlawed by states beginning in the 19th century and have long been taboo across much of the developed world.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
In somewhat bare-bones, cozy settings, Red Lobster became a middle-class family destination, and was welcoming to Black customers at a time when segregation, while outlawed, was still common in much of the American South.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of outlawed

Verb

Israel has meanwhile barred the new Palestinian administration from entering Gaza via Egypt.

— Joseph Krauss, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
The court also barred him from the train operator for 12 months, ordered 80 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity days, and ordered him to pay £5,000 in compensation to Southeastern, £150 in costs and a £187 victim surcharge.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of barred

Verb

The person with the least votes after each round is eliminated, with ballots reapportioned or exhausted until the winner clears 50%.

— Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
But in 2025, Congress eliminated that tax — and in early August, a federal judge in Texas ruled that without it, those other measures for extra vetting were unconstitutional, the Idaho Statesman reported at the time.

— Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 13 Oct. 2026