Synonym Chooser

How does the verb forbid differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of forbid are inhibit, interdict, and prohibit. While all these words mean "to debar one from doing something or to order that something not be done," forbid implies that the order is from one in authority and that obedience is expected.

smoking is forbidden in the building

When would inhibit be a good substitute for forbid?

While in some cases nearly identical to forbid, inhibit implies restraints or restrictions that amount to prohibitions, not only by authority but also by the exigencies of the time or situation.

conditions inhibiting the growth of free trade

In what contexts can interdict take the place of forbid?

Although the words interdict and forbid have much in common, interdict implies prohibition by civil or ecclesiastical authority usually for a given time or a declared purpose.

practices interdicted by the church

When could prohibit be used to replace forbid?

While the synonyms prohibit and forbid are close in meaning, prohibit suggests the issuing of laws, statutes, or regulations.

prohibited the sale of liquor

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 forbid At the stratospheric atmospheres in which the Sanchez/Bezos family operates, pre-nups can require the legal dog teams to pull the weighty sled of the fortune across some forbidding personal and civil terrain. Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 But neither court has yet opined on California’s second major claim: that by assisting immigration raids, troops under Trump’s command violated the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which forbids soldiers from enforcing civilian laws. Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025 The court's ruling stems from a lawsuit filed last year by parents of Louisiana school children from various religious backgrounds, who said the law violates First Amendment language guaranteeing religious liberty and forbidding government establishment of religion. Democrat-Gazette Staff, Arkansas Online, 21 June 2025 New York State law prohibits fully autonomous operation without a human driver in the car, thus forbidding the kind of driverless service Waymo provides in San Francisco and elsewhere. Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for forbid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbid
Verb
  • The law prohibits predatory financial activities and requires lenders to obtain a license.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 June 2025
  • Both bills prohibit yield-bearing consumer stablecoins — but differ on agency regulatory oversight.
    MacKenzie Sigalos,Talia Kaplan,Jordan Smith, CNBC, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Kansas banned gender-affirming treatments for minors.
    The NPR Network, NPR, 1 July 2025
  • France banned the sale of cigarettes to minors under 18 in 2009.
    Lisa Klaassen, CNN Money, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • In theory, this outlawed the Communist Party of the United States and banned communists from serving in certain roles.
    James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
  • Texas' new law bans people from purchasing tickets on behalf of another person or selling tickets to another person, effectively outlawing couriers.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 25 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Forbid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbid. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on forbid

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