1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a dark, forbidding house, that is reputed to be haunted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Al enthusiastically pointed out 14th-century Doune Castle, a forbidding pile of stones that today is less known as a royal retreat for Mary, Queen of Scots, and Bonnie Prince Charlie than as a popular movie and TV setting.
—Patti Nickell, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 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
Meanwhile, the windswept moors feel like something out of a classic thriller, forbidding and alluring at once.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Al enthusiastically pointed out 14th-century Doune Castle, a forbidding pile of stones that today is less known as a royal retreat for Mary, Queen of Scots, and Bonnie Prince Charlie than as a popular movie and TV setting.
—Patti Nickell, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forbidding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbidding
Adjective
-
Lisa Piper stood on her back deck and took video of a terrifying scene that played out on the other side of frozen Union Lake as a funnel cloud formed and then dropped toward the ground Friday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Lisa Piper stood on her back deck and took video of a terrifying scene that played out on the other side of frozen Union Lake as a funnel cloud formed and then dropped toward the ground.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The willful Sun teams up with joyous Jupiter to energize your domestic zone and your intimidating 8th house.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Long guns, very intimidating guns.—
Heather Abbott,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Under that program, San Diego County adopted an ordinance prohibiting children under age 12 from operating Class 1 or Class 2 e-bikes.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
5 Mar. 2026
-
For everyday visitors, this means the government is not restricting or prohibiting travel and isn't discouraging travelers from visiting.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And for Slusser, born and raised as a Christian in Texas, just a year and a half living in Northern California had taken a frightening toll.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Protests that kind of were merging toward violence or at least frightening to our diplomats.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As Woody Harrelson detailed Harrison Ford's accomplishments from the Actors Awards stage, the famously gruff actor seemed to squirm in his seat, somehow uncomfortable with praise even at the age of 83.—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
2 Mar. 2026
-
While not gruff or unfriendly, the serious New York restaurateur carries a distinct tone of getting down to business, even when casually chatting about how the show has changed over time.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The prohibition currently keeps about 53,000 ineligible to vote in Missouri.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The restaurant has been owned by a handful of different families who navigated world wars, prohibition, and global pandemics, moving locations just twice but always staying on Decatur Street.—
Stephanie Gallman Jordan,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The court ruled Thursday that the state law banning Section 8 discrimination violates the Fourth Amendment.—
Tim McNicholas,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Policies requiring freshmen to live in dorms or banning children from campus can make going to college as a parent incredibly difficult and, at times, impossible.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Makes for a pretty formidable opponent, especially in your own division.—
Kevin Sherrington
Mar. 6,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
At 38-24 and a half-game ahead of the Lakers, star center Nikola Jokic’s squad is always formidable — and looking to avenge a loss to Redick’s team in their first matchup, 115-107 in a game Jokic didn’t play.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forbidding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbidding. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
