as in prohibited
that may not be permitted
trespassing is forbidden
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in banned
to order not to do or use or to be done or used
smoking is forbidden throughout the building we forbid you to see him
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 forbidden
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2026
These range from the pages being discolored by demonic forces, or that the pages once contained forbidden texts, now removed.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025
William J Watkins Jr, Oc Register, 4 Mar. 2026
While young people are forbidden to use such models and their chatbots, developers — people and companies building on the AI models — often don’t face similar restrictions.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbidden
Adjective
The forbidden readings came from Plato, the Athenian philosopher whose work is widely regarded as an important basis for Western thought over more than two millennia.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2026
These range from the pages being discolored by demonic forces, or that the pages once contained forbidden texts, now removed.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025
Verb
The thirteen sovereign states were forbidden to engage in hostilities except in cases of invasion or imminent attack.
—William J Watkins Jr, Oc Register, 4 Mar. 2026
While young people are forbidden to use such models and their chatbots, developers — people and companies building on the AI models — often don’t face similar restrictions.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbidden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbidden
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
-
North Korea was banned from the 2015 World Cup, then failed to qualify for the Asian Cup in 2018 and the World Cup in 2019.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Some obvious changes in parenting guidelines over the years include no longer allowing kids to ride a bike without a helmet or travel in a car without a car seat—most parents have also banned crib bumpers and blankets from their infants cribs, too.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forbidden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbidden. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
