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
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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
Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Exile is a state of being barred from a homeland—of being forced to live in a foreign world as punishment for not conforming.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office has been independently investigating the shootings — as well as that of Renee Good — after federal authorities barred their local counterparts from accessing evidence and information.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
At the moment, Exelon, as the parent company to a group of six regulated transmission utilities, is barred from doing so, and instead acts as a middleman for power that is generated by a host of competing power plant operators.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Sarah Henderson, a senator in the Liberal party that has seen its vote eroded by One Nation, said Tuesday that Australians with sympathies toward ISIS should be barred from re-entering the country.
—Reuters, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
At the start of his show, Colbert told viewers that CBS had barred him from airing the interview, citing threats from Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
The Yale Daily News reported Tuesday that Gelernter had been barred from teaching classes pending a review.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
In addition to asking that the subpoena be quashed, Wexner sought a protective order that would have barred plaintiffs from questioning him in the case.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 11 Feb. 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
Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, said Clark deserved a tougher punishment, including being barred from practicing law in the state.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Exile is a state of being barred from a homeland—of being forced to live in a foreign world as punishment for not conforming.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office has been independently investigating the shootings — as well as that of Renee Good — after federal authorities barred their local counterparts from accessing evidence and information.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
At the moment, Exelon, as the parent company to a group of six regulated transmission utilities, is barred from doing so, and instead acts as a middleman for power that is generated by a host of competing power plant operators.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Sarah Henderson, a senator in the Liberal party that has seen its vote eroded by One Nation, said Tuesday that Australians with sympathies toward ISIS should be barred from re-entering the country.
—Reuters, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
At the start of his show, Colbert told viewers that CBS had barred him from airing the interview, citing threats from Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
The Yale Daily News reported Tuesday that Gelernter had been barred from teaching classes pending a review.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
In addition to asking that the subpoena be quashed, Wexner sought a protective order that would have barred plaintiffs from questioning him in the case.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barred
Adjective
-
And while your shirting collection will likely start with the classics—your whites and blues, and striped iterations that combine the two—don’t be shy to embrace color.—
Minty Mellon,
Vogue,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Large horizontal stripes were the next iteration of striped decor, notably on draperies and painted on walls in the mid-2000s and early 2010s.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 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
-
His cheeks are streaked with sooty grime.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
-
His cheeks are streaked with sooty grime.—
Danielle Paquette,
Washington Post,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The International Skating Union long forbade the use of lyrics in any discipline besides ice dance, forcing athletes to perform to older pieces of music — often classical tunes, such as piano concertos.—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
And the Trotskyites were so much better at beating the Stalinists in argument, the Stalinists, in true Stalinist fashion, forbade their members from debating with the Trotskyites.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With revenues soaring, the late President Hugo Chávez, a left-wing populist, lavished cash on Venezuelan masses long excluded from the petroleum windfall.—
Mery Mogollón,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Too many communities are excluded from growth.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Both public parks and private allotments served as compensation for a long process of enclosing public commons to make the urban and rural landscapes of today, in which territories are divided, fenced, and often guarded.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
-
He’s guarded some of the best players in the league.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Women, whether secular or religious, remain forbidden to read, write or tell stories.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Petrosian will compete as a neutral athlete after Russia was banned from the Olympics for its invasion of Ukraine, and as a result, the country has not participated in international competition in years.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Debate swirls around whether these financial behemoths should be banned.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barred. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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