1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a dark, forbidding house, that is reputed to be haunted
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2
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
told us in a forbidding voice to stop calling him by that name
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forbidding
Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 8 July 2025
The basic technology is complicated enough, but the subculture—with its own particular argot and decorum—is what’s truly forbidding.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 10 June 2025
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
While the production design by Jordan Ferrer and the lighting from cinematographer Kira Kelly are designed to create a steadily increasing sense of unease, Tipping also wanted to be sure that the world Cameron enters wasn’t too forbidding.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forbidding
Adjective
In her remarks during the recent tour of the facility, Department of Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem appeared to acknowledge that the forbidding conditions were meant to frighten migrants into self-deporting.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 8 July 2025
The basic technology is complicated enough, but the subculture—with its own particular argot and decorum—is what’s truly forbidding.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 10 June 2025
Verb
After forbidding Rafferty from consulting Ellen, Edward sets off to do it himself.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
While the production design by Jordan Ferrer and the lighting from cinematographer Kira Kelly are designed to create a steadily increasing sense of unease, Tipping also wanted to be sure that the world Cameron enters wasn’t too forbidding.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forbidding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbidding
Adjective
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In the del Toro version, the creature played by Jacob Elordi is not terrifying, the director told Entertainment Weekly in September before the film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Oct. 2025
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The line occurs when the film’s protagonist, Ripley (Weaver), emerges from an elevator in a giant metal bodysuit, ready to fight a terrifying alien to save a young child.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But encounters with the island’s residents, including with his gruff but warm-hearted landlady (played by German screen legend Hanna Schygulla), gradually alter his outlook.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
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Panday plays a convincingly gruff tortured artist alongside Padda’s struggling ingenue, and most of the screen time is devoted to their pairing instead of introducing tertiary excess.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In fact, the party came within a single vote of getting a constitutional amendment prohibiting desecration of the flag through Congress two decades ago.—
Frederic J. Frommer,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Oct. 2025
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In September, a criminal protective order had been issued by the Los Angeles Superior Court, prohibiting Wang from contacting Medrano.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Even more frightening for journalists is the idea that generations are growing up without the habit of following news, particularly for their own communities.—
David Bauder,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
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Witch-burning, frightening folklore, and centuries of war and bloodshed have imparted an unsettling ambience in destinations like Edinburgh.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Rutgers, meanwhile, has lost three in a row and now faces the unenviable task of attempting to strip down one of the most intimidating offenses in the nation.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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Technology is as straightforward and as non-intimidating as any EV.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The mother of a star high school wide receiver has sued the Ohio High School Athletic Association over a prohibition on high school athletes signing NIL deals, but the case might be resolved by a rule change and, if not, would face hurdles.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
18 Oct. 2025
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There, she becomes intrigued by Malaise (Bajrami), a charming young shopgirl for whom Angine is willing to defy the prohibition of kissing.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Their influence led to Trump’s executive order banning biological males from competing in women's sports.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
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This year alone, Sarah Jessica Parker is executive producing a doc on librarians fighting book banning, The Librarians, which her production company joined during its search for funding.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Starters Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Ohtani make up one of the most formidable playoff rotations in recent memory and their lineup with Ohtani at the top followed by stars like Mookie Betts, Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez and a slew of others.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
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Edouard Langlois, a formidable dark-bearded gentleman, was the artistic director of the local Edwin Booth Theatre.—
Robert Eggers,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forbidding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbidding. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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