1
as in prohibits
to order not to do or use or to be done or used
the company absolutely bans smoking within its buildings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excludes
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of
the university banned those caught in the cheating scandal from graduation ceremonies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in curses
a prayer that harm will come to someone
a father's ban upon his ungrateful son
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in prohibitions
an order that something not be done or used
a quiet seaside resort with a ban on the drinking of alcohol in public places
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 bans
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Jan. 2026
Supporters of the measure say the amendment would strengthen a law passed last year, which specifically bans eminent domain for carbon capture pipeline projects.
—Meghan O’Brien, States Newsroom, 28 Jan. 2026
The bill bans fees when there is no in-person class option, with some exceptions.
—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The legislation bans the use of eminent domain for the construction, operation or acquirement of right-of-ways for any pipeline with the primary purpose of transporting carbon dioxide.
—Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 22 Jan. 2026
The ordinance immediately bans sales to Chicagoans under 21 years old.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Altschiller noted that the beach already bans pets, drones, alcohol and tackle football, among other activities and items.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
The law bans the use of zip codes as proxies for race, ethnicity, or national origin and requires employers to notify individuals when AI is used to make decisions in hiring, promotion, or termination.
—Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Because Placek signed a lease with Walmart, his company must continue to pay lease payments even while the city bans him from operating.
—Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
Chad De Guzman, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
Other countries, including India and members of the European Union, stopped short of bans but signaled that legal scrutiny and tighter regulation were now inevitable.
—The Ai Insider, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
In anticipation of the storm, many schools and businesses have announced closures for Monday and parking bans have been issued throughout the state.
—Katie Landeck, The Providence Journal, 25 Jan. 2026
Furs have come roaring back, despite continued industry prohibitions like bans at brands like Gucci, Prada and Chanel, and restrictions around the depiction of new animal fur in magazines owned by major publishers like Condé Nast, which includes Vogue and Vanity Fair.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
The city has designated blue light lots as free parking areas for residents during citywide snow parking bans, indicated by illuminated blue lights on traffic signals.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2026
Other countries with visa bans echoed her enthusiasm.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 22 Jan. 2026
Nealon said her organization does not support punishments for violating phone bans like suspension, noting that some advocates have raised concerns that such disciplinary action could disproportionately impact children of color.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
These mean that the ships can’t be insured in these jurisdictions, and that service and port bans can be imposed.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
South Korea’s anti-graft law bans public officials and their spouses from receiving gifts valued at more than $750 in connection with their public duties.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Jan. 2026
Supporters of the measure say the amendment would strengthen a law passed last year, which specifically bans eminent domain for carbon capture pipeline projects.
—Meghan O’Brien, States Newsroom, 28 Jan. 2026
The bill bans fees when there is no in-person class option, with some exceptions.
—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The legislation bans the use of eminent domain for the construction, operation or acquirement of right-of-ways for any pipeline with the primary purpose of transporting carbon dioxide.
—Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 22 Jan. 2026
The ordinance immediately bans sales to Chicagoans under 21 years old.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Altschiller noted that the beach already bans pets, drones, alcohol and tackle football, among other activities and items.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
The law bans the use of zip codes as proxies for race, ethnicity, or national origin and requires employers to notify individuals when AI is used to make decisions in hiring, promotion, or termination.
—Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Because Placek signed a lease with Walmart, his company must continue to pay lease payments even while the city bans him from operating.
—Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, attempted to include measures in the bill that would have increased oversight into ICE activity—such as body camera mandates and bans on officers wearing masks during operations—but failed to secure them.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
Other countries, including India and members of the European Union, stopped short of bans but signaled that legal scrutiny and tighter regulation were now inevitable.
—The Ai Insider, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
In anticipation of the storm, many schools and businesses have announced closures for Monday and parking bans have been issued throughout the state.
—Katie Landeck, The Providence Journal, 25 Jan. 2026
Furs have come roaring back, despite continued industry prohibitions like bans at brands like Gucci, Prada and Chanel, and restrictions around the depiction of new animal fur in magazines owned by major publishers like Condé Nast, which includes Vogue and Vanity Fair.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
The city has designated blue light lots as free parking areas for residents during citywide snow parking bans, indicated by illuminated blue lights on traffic signals.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2026
Other countries with visa bans echoed her enthusiasm.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 22 Jan. 2026
Nealon said her organization does not support punishments for violating phone bans like suspension, noting that some advocates have raised concerns that such disciplinary action could disproportionately impact children of color.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
These mean that the ships can’t be insured in these jurisdictions, and that service and port bans can be imposed.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 18 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bans
Verb
-
The agency said a federal law prohibits patients from using Medicaid to pay for care at Planned Parenthood of Michigan.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
-
International humanitarian law prohibits killing, injuring or capturing an adversary through perfidy.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The offer excludes TurboTax Live.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Forbes excludes dispersed family fortunes but attributes wealth of immediate family members to the founder of a fortune.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In Jujutsu Kaisen, heroic jujutsu sorcerers wage war against demonic creatures called curses and the curse users, who wield jujutsu powers for evil.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
-
And as relief from one of the greatest curses imaginable – chronic pain – the neuro-key may offer pain modulation without the expense, side effects, and addiction risk of opioids and systemic drugs.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
However, Peled’s move challenges the longstanding status quo forbidding Jewish worship at the site, due to a combination of prohibitions imposed by the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf and Orthodox rabbis.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Furs have come roaring back, despite continued industry prohibitions like bans at brands like Gucci, Prada and Chanel, and restrictions around the depiction of new animal fur in magazines owned by major publishers like Condé Nast, which includes Vogue and Vanity Fair.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
George Gross, an expert on theology and the monarchy at King’s College London, highlighted the church’s continuing divergence from the Catholic Church, which forbids women from being ordained as priests, much less as serving as the religion’s global spiritual leader.—
Danica Kirka,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Zada believes that the power to keep AI outputs copyright clean lies in the hands of the prompter, meaning Secret Level forbids IP being cited in its text inputs.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Federal law also bars unauthorized immigrants from owning firearms — a rule that withstood a recent challenge in federal court.—
Paul Kiefer,
jsonline.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Sanders also bars profanity outside the meeting room and stressed the importance of being respectful of women.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
By banning federal agencies from considering systemic racism or equity in AI development, the order effectively outlaws the very efforts needed to fix these problems.—
Joel Bervell,
Time,
14 Nov. 2025
-
North Carolina The North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Commission outlaws the sale of alcoholic beverages through happy hour promotions.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Grassley has argued that the practice protects checks and balances, encourages the White House to consult with senators, and prevents administrations of either party from jamming through prosecutors and judges who lack local support.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
-
This evolution also dismantles what Rebecca describes as the fourth wall of work, the invisible barrier that prevents people from understanding how their capability connects to real demand.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bans. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
