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.
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Recent Examples of bans
Bri Buckley, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The study found no effect on the rate of suicides, but showed higher rates of homicides and gun homicides in places where Sunday bans on alcohol sales has been repealed.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
That law, approved by 77% of Bay State voters back in 2016, bans the in-state sale of products derived from animals raised in extreme confinement.
—John Cleveland, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
My administration will establish clear policy that bans deputy gangs and gang-like behavior, protect whistleblowers, and create safe, independent channels to report misconduct.
—Opinion Staff, Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Pashinyan, who has been in office since 2018, responded thatArmenian law bans holders of Russian passports from taking part in elections.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
The measure aims to build on a state law that bans gender affirming procedures for minors.
—Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice, 31 Mar. 2026
Australia bans kids under 16 from social media In 2024, Australia became the first country to kick kids under 16 off social media.
—Barbara Ortutay, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
In many states, regulators try to keep lending and betting separate; Virginia, for example, bans gambling operators from offering loans to customers.
—ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Christa Swanson, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Anticipating global shortages, both Russia and China have already instituted export bans of certain fertilizers to help ensure ample domestic supplies.
—E.j. Antoni, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
That’s when Missouri saw its first gender-affirming care bans proposed.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Unlike McBride, her concern is not that MAHA is moving too aggressively, but that the federal government might ultimately preempt state dye bans and then fail to act.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2026
State legislatures can define conversion therapy a bit more narrowly, for example, by prohibiting the physical and more coercive techniques that initially gave rise to these bans.
—Kevin Cope, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
While no major city has yet passed a moratorium, Denver and Dallas are mulling similar bans.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
The outcome of the case could mean a rollback on conversion therapy bans across the country.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 31 Mar. 2026
Alberta and Saskatchewan are the only two provinces that have since lifted their bans.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
The law bans the enforcement of foreign or religious law — particularly Sharia Law, the Islamic code.
—Bri Buckley, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The study found no effect on the rate of suicides, but showed higher rates of homicides and gun homicides in places where Sunday bans on alcohol sales has been repealed.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
That law, approved by 77% of Bay State voters back in 2016, bans the in-state sale of products derived from animals raised in extreme confinement.
—John Cleveland, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
My administration will establish clear policy that bans deputy gangs and gang-like behavior, protect whistleblowers, and create safe, independent channels to report misconduct.
—Opinion Staff, Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Pashinyan, who has been in office since 2018, responded thatArmenian law bans holders of Russian passports from taking part in elections.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
The measure aims to build on a state law that bans gender affirming procedures for minors.
—Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice, 31 Mar. 2026
Australia bans kids under 16 from social media In 2024, Australia became the first country to kick kids under 16 off social media.
—Barbara Ortutay, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
In many states, regulators try to keep lending and betting separate; Virginia, for example, bans gambling operators from offering loans to customers.
—ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
Voters were also in favor of keeping phones out of classrooms, with 79% of respondents approving of cellphone bans in K-12 classrooms, CPI said.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Anticipating global shortages, both Russia and China have already instituted export bans of certain fertilizers to help ensure ample domestic supplies.
—E.j. Antoni, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
That’s when Missouri saw its first gender-affirming care bans proposed.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Unlike McBride, her concern is not that MAHA is moving too aggressively, but that the federal government might ultimately preempt state dye bans and then fail to act.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2026
State legislatures can define conversion therapy a bit more narrowly, for example, by prohibiting the physical and more coercive techniques that initially gave rise to these bans.
—Kevin Cope, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
While no major city has yet passed a moratorium, Denver and Dallas are mulling similar bans.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
The outcome of the case could mean a rollback on conversion therapy bans across the country.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 31 Mar. 2026
Alberta and Saskatchewan are the only two provinces that have since lifted their bans.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bans
Verb
-
The Welcoming City Ordinance in Chicago prohibits police from participating in civil immigration enforcement operations or assisting ICE.—
Victor Jacobo,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Min Aung Hlaing, who holds the rank of senior general, had earlier relinquished his post of the commander-in-chief because the constitution prohibits the president from simultaneously holding the top military position.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This definition excludes some workers covered by state or labor contract mandates.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The deal excludes Unilever’s food business in India, Nepal and Portugal.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Pay multiple people from the crafts site Etsy to perform tarot readings, lift any existing curses and otherwise engage in witchcraft.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Indeed, various curses and slurs could be heard shouted from the audience at London's Royal Festival Hall, even during some segments broadcast to audiences in England and abroad.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Jackson’s dissent also raises difficult line-drawing problems, such as the validity of less controversial potential prohibitions, such as those on encouraging a patient to smoke or to take their own life.—
Kevin Cope,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
-
If the goal is truly to protect consumers, the solution does not lie in reducing the visibility of the legal market through federal prohibitions, but rather in avoiding excessive intervention.—
Cláudia Nunes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike the case of Messi in MLS, the NFL forbids teams from offering equity to players as a component of compensation.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance, updated in 2012 as part of the city’s municipal code, largely forbids Chicago police from cooperating with federal immigration agencies in deportation proceedings.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lawmakers allege those organizations have engaged in political activity prohibited under federal tax law, which bars 501(c)(3) groups from participating in campaigns for or against candidates.—
Asra Q. Nomani,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The law, which takes effect July 1, bars courts and other adjudicatory bodies from enforcing provisions of foreign or religious law, with particular emphasis on the Islamic code known as Sharia law.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 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
-
Flexi-form technology prevents creasing, while light refracting pigments blur the look of fine lines and texture.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
This removes debounce delay, prevents mechanical wear, and eliminates issues like accidental double-clicking.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bans. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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