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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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
Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 16 July 2025
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
Susan Page, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
But when leaving the company, to keep their vested equity, they were reportedly required to sign an agreement that contained provisions eternally forbidding them from criticizing their former employer, and that prevented them from mentioning the agreement’s existence.
—Harry Booth, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forbidding
Adjective
But his copy of Gorky Park, with its forbidding heft, stayed on the shelf.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 16 July 2025
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
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
Several stories account for the ominous name of the stark, forbidding mountains.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
But when leaving the company, to keep their vested equity, they were reportedly required to sign an agreement that contained provisions eternally forbidding them from criticizing their former employer, and that prevented them from mentioning the agreement’s existence.
—Harry Booth, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forbidding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbidding
Adjective
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Episode 3 confirms that this is no mere nod to another Stephen King classic, when the young Black soldier showcases his unique powers in a thrilling and terrifying sequence.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
-
That is, until Episode 3, when the terrifying harlequin seems to finally appear from the pitch black depths of a crypt inside the Derry cemetery.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The Kingpin is one of its offerings this year, an intimidating V-8 monster that makes over 800 horsepower and is blacked out.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
5 Nov. 2025
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The podcast is meant to do some of the bedtime planning for parents, taking an intimidating task off their plate.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Kansas City Council has approved a code change prohibiting right turns on red near schools during hours when children could be present.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
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Earlier this year, Southwest Airlines implemented new restrictions on lithium batteries prohibiting them from being used while inside bags.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Because to accept Douglas Kelley's conclusions that the capacity for the most unspeakable atrocity is latent in our own reality is shockingly quotidian and perhaps too frightening to hear; a responsibility too terrible to accept and yet too prescient to ignore.—
NPR,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The 3-point shooting won’t hold, but even being around the top 10 in accuracy would make this scary Rockets squad even more frightening.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Patterson was hired in a guest role as the gruff diner owner with a heart of gold, Luke Danes.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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Burr plays a gruff American record-store owner who convinces a ragtag gang of teenage misfits that their best, and possibly only, chance to lose their virginity before graduating high school is at a massive open-air mass for the visiting Pope.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
No prohibition had been announced, but they would never be allowed to join a guild.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
-
In Margaret Atwood’s chilling dystopian novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, the founders of the Republic of Gilead legislate a blanket prohibition on women’s employment and the seizure of their personal savings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Six families, barred from entering the home by a March state order banning visitors to long-term care facilities, say they were also kept in the dark about what was happening as the case count began to climb.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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On the final day of the tournament, the International Olympic Committee recommended banning Russian athletes from competition.—
Jeremy Herb,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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As the day wears on, the crowd swells to a formidable throng.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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If host Point Loma was going to stay unbeaten and advance to the Division 1 quarterfinal with a win over Mater Dei Catholic on Friday night, Pointers head coach Ryan Price was sure his formidable defense would have a major hand in it.—
Kevin J. Farmer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forbidding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbidding. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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