1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a dark, forbidding house, that is reputed to be haunted
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025
Despite its forbidding appearance, the building is now a cultural centre.
—James Medd, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Dec. 2025
Susan Page, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
Generally speaking, courts have ruled against people who violate a religious-neutral law while practicing their religion, including a notable 1990 case that found a man’s religious peyote use could still be penalized under an Oregon law forbidding it.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbidding
Adjective
The hike out to it is one of San Diego County’s most famous, and most forbidding.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025
Despite its forbidding appearance, the building is now a cultural centre.
—James Medd, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Dec. 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
On a campy and subversive new album featuring Bladee, the Ukrainian black metal artist aspires to make the notoriously forbidding genre a little warmer.
—Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
Generally speaking, courts have ruled against people who violate a religious-neutral law while practicing their religion, including a notable 1990 case that found a man’s religious peyote use could still be penalized under an Oregon law forbidding it.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbidding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbidding
Adjective
-
Some of his acts are dangerous or terrifying.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
In 1972, Ann-Margret fell 22 feet from a stage during a performance — a terrifying moment that could have ended her career.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Well, that sounds very intimidating.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
-
In a category dominated by Plan B, its strategy made emergency contraception more approachable and less intimidating.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
El Monte passed a 45-day data center moratorium prohibiting processing, approval and acceptance of new data center land-use applications last month.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
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The department also could issue a rule prohibiting federal funds for hospitals performing gender-affirming care for minors, which would kick off another set of legal challenges.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Beats that might once have been framed through a hazy, absurdist lens now play as something much more fatalistic and frightening.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Forget about sonic or other frightening devices.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Leslie and her gruff-but-caring, staunch Libertarian boss Ron Swanson (the incomparable Nick Offerman) became symbols of bygone bipartisanship, not to mention endless memes.—
Jennifer Armstrong,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
-
And Zendaya, as to be expected, really, is fantastic, slipping effortlessly under the skin of the gruff addict in recovery, trying to claw her way out of an increasingly deep hole.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The White House did not immediately respond to a question about whether the prohibition spans both offensive and defensive strikes.—
Melanie Lidman,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Some educators are expanding technology prohibitions even further by dropping laptops from their classrooms, too.—
Melanie Asmar,
Denver Post,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Many colleges today have yet to integrate AI into learning, with professors often outright banning use of the technology in the classroom.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Democrats have refused to fund ICE and Border Patrol unless Republicans agree to major immigration enforcement reforms, such as requiring federal officers to obtain judicial warrants before entering private homes and banning officers from wearing masks.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Housed in a building with a dimpled façade that many say looks like a cheese grater, the Broad houses the collection of Edythe Broad, who accumulated a formidable cache of contemporary art with her late husband Eli.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Homages to Chile’s formidable troika are among the record 10 the festival has planned for this edition, said festival director Estrella Araiza.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forbidding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbidding. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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