1
2
as in prohibited
that may not be permitted
smoking is barred inside the restaurant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in forbade
to order not to do or use or to be done or used
corporal punishment has long been barred in most public schools
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in excluded
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of
beach-goers are barred from walking in roped-off sections of the beach to protect nesting birds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in guarded
to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point
the bikeway was barred by a huge fallen tree
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 barred
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
In the constellation Cepheus lies the barred spiral galaxy NGC 6951.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Teens as young as 13 will be able to use a limited ChatGPT, while under-13 users remain barred.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2025
In 2023, a barred owl known as Owen was rescued near Boston’s Faneuil Hall after ingesting rat poison.
—Nara Schoenberg, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
There’s broad agreement the native owls are at risk, but the animal rights organizations behind the opposition letter this week say killing barred owls is not the answer.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
At the time of the fire, there were 57 female students in the dormitory, described by police as a flat concrete building measuring about 100 feet by 40 feet, with barred windows.
—Hande Atay Alam, CNN, 23 May 2023
Dogs and buzzards fought over a dead cat in the middle of the street, directly across from an officer who watched the ferocious struggle from a barred window, twirling the ends of his moustache.
—Alexander Sammon, Harper's Magazine, 25 July 2022
In California, for example, the legislature in 2018 barred felony murder charges against participants in a felony who did not personally kill anyone.
—jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2021
Michael R. Sisak The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
There, private security last summer repeatedly barred protesters and photo journalists from entering or observing at the entry.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Israel has barred reporters from entering Gaza independently since the 2023 attack by Hamas, arguing that entry could put journalists and soldiers at risk.
—CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Japanese prisoners were initially barred from farm labor and community programs, even as labor shortages across Iowa worsened.
—Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Bowe is excited for the 2026 Winter Games — particularly the return to fans in the stands, as they were still barred from attending in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
Israel has barred reporters from entering Gaza independently since the 2023 attacks by Hamas, saying entry could put journalists and soldiers at risk.
—Julia Frankel, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
In our democracy, with vanishingly rare exceptions, the government is barred from breaking into your home without a judge giving a green light.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2026
He is barred from possessing firearms and weapons and from consuming alcohol or drugs.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Known for her raunchy, no-holds barred comedy, Glaser’s career skyrocketed after her standout performance on Netflix’s roast of Tom Brady.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
In the constellation Cepheus lies the barred spiral galaxy NGC 6951.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Teens as young as 13 will be able to use a limited ChatGPT, while under-13 users remain barred.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2025
In 2023, a barred owl known as Owen was rescued near Boston’s Faneuil Hall after ingesting rat poison.
—Nara Schoenberg, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
There’s broad agreement the native owls are at risk, but the animal rights organizations behind the opposition letter this week say killing barred owls is not the answer.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
At the time of the fire, there were 57 female students in the dormitory, described by police as a flat concrete building measuring about 100 feet by 40 feet, with barred windows.
—Hande Atay Alam, CNN, 23 May 2023
Dogs and buzzards fought over a dead cat in the middle of the street, directly across from an officer who watched the ferocious struggle from a barred window, twirling the ends of his moustache.
—Alexander Sammon, Harper's Magazine, 25 July 2022
In California, for example, the legislature in 2018 barred felony murder charges against participants in a felony who did not personally kill anyone.
—jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2021
Verb
Under New York law, the district attorney's office could be barred from trying Mangione on state murder charges if his federal trial happens first.
—Michael R. Sisak The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
There, private security last summer repeatedly barred protesters and photo journalists from entering or observing at the entry.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Israel has barred reporters from entering Gaza independently since the 2023 attack by Hamas, arguing that entry could put journalists and soldiers at risk.
—CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Japanese prisoners were initially barred from farm labor and community programs, even as labor shortages across Iowa worsened.
—Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Bowe is excited for the 2026 Winter Games — particularly the return to fans in the stands, as they were still barred from attending in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
Israel has barred reporters from entering Gaza independently since the 2023 attacks by Hamas, saying entry could put journalists and soldiers at risk.
—Julia Frankel, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
In our democracy, with vanishingly rare exceptions, the government is barred from breaking into your home without a judge giving a green light.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2026
He is barred from possessing firearms and weapons and from consuming alcohol or drugs.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barred
Adjective
-
Why else show nubby fleece trousers with a coordinating striped jacket, which nobody needs but would be a hoot to wear?—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Knodel and 11 of her friends took up tables against a black-and-white striped wall Saturday morning, a doll sitting next to each of them.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There is, however, room for questions about where the line between prohibited and acceptable political involvement will fall in practice.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
-
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
Verb
-
Fernando, who normally studies quakes on the moon and Mars, teamed up with Imperial College London’s Constantinos Charalambous the day after the Chinese debris streaked across the California sky in 2024.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Another lies nearby, his body sprawled on the tiled floor with arms raised and blood streaked across the face.—
Marin Scott,
NBC news,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
States often screen their Medicaid rolls to exclude families who have begun earning too much money to qualify, but Congress rightly forbade that during the pandemic.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Jan. 2026
-
As a Manhattan native, public school league rules forbade Powell from playing for a school outside the borough.—
Luke Cyphers,
Rolling Stone,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To ensure the fairness and credibility of our readers’ poll, any votes originating from the same IP address that exceed 20 submissions will be excluded from the final tally.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Thom’s jaw tightened as our connection excluded him.—
Nick Dothée,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rather than social paranoia per se, people simply become exceedingly guarded and opt to turn off all external contact.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Part Two of the plan was going to a zone defense, and then finally, Lucas put muscular freshman Shelton Henderson on Okorie and face-guarded him and tried to take him out of the game.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
One of Japan’s most beloved television personalities — and a perennial favorite-host winner — Matsuko brings her sharp insight and commanding presence to a forbidden auction staged in a mysterious underground space.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Waiting was something forbidden.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That is consistent with a 2019 law that banned whale and dolphin captivity, though Marineland's animals were grandfathered in.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Some governments banned the service or issued warnings.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barred. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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