1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a dark, forbidding house, that is reputed to be haunted
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intimidating
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
told us in a forbidding voice to stop calling him by that name
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in prohibiting
the act of ordering that something not be done or used
the landlord's forbidding of loud music after 10:00 p.m.
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as in banning
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forbidding
Susan Page, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
With the clarifications, the White House seems already to be walking back some of the most forbidding aspects of the change, a far cry from the Administration’s language over the weekend.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
Susan Page, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 22 Jan. 2026
Manny Abarca, chairman of the Jackson County Legislature, has drafted legislation forbidding ICE agents from wearing masks while conducting federal actions in the area.
—Mara Williams, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbidding
Adjective
But Cheney rarely tried to combat the image painted by critics and comedians of him as a dour partisan, dark and forbidding.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
With the clarifications, the White House seems already to be walking back some of the most forbidding aspects of the change, a far cry from the Administration’s language over the weekend.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
But Cheney rarely tried to combat the image painted by critics and comedians of him as a dour partisan, dark and forbidding.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
Even the mountain’s location is forbidding.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 22 Jan. 2026
Manny Abarca, chairman of the Jackson County Legislature, has drafted legislation forbidding ICE agents from wearing masks while conducting federal actions in the area.
—Mara Williams, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbidding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbidding
Adjective
-
Pregnancy and birth carry its own battles and terrifying statistics.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The editorial board then throws in the new scare tactic for good measure at the end, claiming that there is some terrifying epidemic of puking, screaming and hospitalizations as the result of THC use (relying on spotty data, none of which has been linked to THC beverages).—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Because a microneedle infusion device can feel more intimidating than a simple serum, Mon Lumière prioritizes education and reassurance.—
William Jones
January 29,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Closet organization is often seen as an intimidating, hours-long task that can feel redundant once the mess piles back up again.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Preventing public input The restroom language was abruptly added to a bill that had been solely focused on prohibiting the Department of Revenue from accommodating gender marker change requests on state identification documents.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
29 Jan. 2026
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Democrats are seeking changes to immigration enforcement in exchange for their votes to continue funding the government, including requiring federal agents to wear body cameras, ending the crackdown in Minneapolis and other cities and prohibiting agents from wearing masks.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But that depiction was picked apart by a vast array of online onlookers, from law enforcement experts to ordinary Instagram users, some of whom replayed the videos frame by frame and zoomed in to show the episode in frightening detail.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
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The news this week that CPW employees are facing a variety of threats from radical elements in both groups of Coloradans strikes us as ironic sad — and frightening.—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Approved by The Boss himself, the live-music and storytelling show finds Azaria slipping into his best Springsteen guise for a night of gruff tales and greatest hits.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
24 Dec. 2025
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The gory skit ends with the gruff older man rushing through the door to announce he’s made amends with his son, only to have his head sliced off by the flying chainsaw.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
21 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Others, including prohibitions on universal vote-by-mail and ranked choice voting -- two voting methods that have proved popular in some states -- would happen immediately.—
LISA MASCARO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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During the prohibition era, the cave used trap doors and movable brick walls to hide liquor from law enforcement.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In addition to West Virginia, six other states have targeted food dyes with new laws or executive orders, requiring warning labels on food with certain dyes or banning the sale of such products in schools.—
Alan Greenblatt,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
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Last year, the court upheld a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors — a ruling with repercussions across the country.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But Isbell runs the race on a stark and formidable solo album and a batting average of six wins for eight nods (prior to this year’s three more).—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Van Scoyoc and Cohen will be a formidable one-two duo for Palos Verdes.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forbidding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbidding. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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