forbidding 1 of 3

adjective

fər-ˈbi-diŋ How to pronounce forbidding (audio)
Definition of forbiddingnext
1
as in terrifying
causing fear a dark, forbidding house, that is reputed to be haunted

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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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forbidding

2 of 3

noun

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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forbidding

3 of 3

verb

present participle of forbid
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

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 forbidding
Adjective
His prose is equally forbidding—dense and abstract, in the long tradition of German philosophy. — Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 3 May 2026 Meanwhile, the windswept moors feel like something out of a classic thriller, forbidding and alluring at once. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
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
The filmmaker contrasts her bucolic nature scenes with shots of the giant ships passing by and the interiors and exteriors of the factories located near the island, belching smoke and lit up at night like a forbidding theme park. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026 Some saw the other cheaters get away with it and concluded the prompt forbidding cheating had no teeth—that there wouldn’t be any punishment for cheating. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for forbidding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbidding
  1. terrifying
  2. intimidating
  3. prohibition
  4. prohibiting
  5. frightening
  6. gruff
  7. banning
  8. outlawing
Adjective
  • Fifty years ago, scientists pioneering a terrifying gene-splicing technology figured out a way to collectively hit pause.
    — Nick Fountain, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Don’t worry, the breakdown starts in a hurry and Cardellini is terrifying, if perhaps not as sympathetic as the series requires long-term.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of terrifying
Adjective
  • The result is a more intimidating cousin of last season’s leopard obsession, with enough personality to make even the simplest outfit look considerably more interesting.
    — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Eli Manning spent 16 seasons staring down some of the NFL's most intimidating defensive players.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of intimidating
Noun
  • Historically, politicians have kept a firewall between church and state to keep from crossing the First Amendment’s prohibition on a national religion or government restrictions that interfere with an individual’s expression of faith.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • These young people have defied prohibitions on protest, breached draconian security clampdowns, and endured detentions to relentlessly question the government’s authority.
    — Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of prohibition
Verb
  • Nessel's office is calling for HailgateA2 to be dissolved and is also seeking a court order prohibiting Klein from selling tickets or memorabilia affiliated with U of M, Michigan Stadium or any other venue in the state.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Authorities tried to physically suppress and contain dissent by prohibiting it and preventing protesters from entering certain public spaces.
    — Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of prohibiting
Adjective
  • There is nothing more frightening than when the familiar starts acting strange, in movies or in life.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • And with Halloween nearly upon us, the question of what frightening, shocking, silly, classic, or demonically camp movies to press play on again (and again) has never been more pertinent.
    — Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • Defying the old-school stereotype of the hard-nosed, gruff newspaper boss, Vaughn often mentored young reporters in a serious but friendly and encouraging manner.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Over three decades in stand-up comedy, Bill Burr has gained a reputation for saying, with gruff conviction and political fire, the thing on everyone’s mind.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of gruff
Noun
  • Sally Rooney‘s publisher has pulled her books from UK shelves amid the country’s banning of a pro-Palestinian group.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The 20th century text is updated with notes on cyberbullying, viral videos , school shootings, conspiracy thinking, conservative populism, book banning and even beer pong.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of banning
Verb
  • After the Supreme Court ruling outlawing affirmative action, civil rights groups filed a federal complaint challenging Harvard’s legacy and donor preferences.
    — Jayson Weingarten, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • It was modeled on a law that the Nevada state legislature passed in 2021, outlawing the use of Colorado River water on ornamental grass and commercial, government and homeowners association properties in places like Las Vegas.
    — Paul Rogers, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of outlawing

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Cite this Entry

“Forbidding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbidding. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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