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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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

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
  • Robertson and Sepulveda play two friends who travel to a remote Italian village to settle a family estate, where their trip spirals into a deadly game of deception at the hands of a charming hunter with a terrifying secret (Armitage).
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
  • In the last two minutes of the flight, Filgueiras shifted from calmly communicating with air traffic controllers to calling out terrifying updates as the plane plummeted.
    — Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of terrifying
Adjective
  • Mix the unique transmission with that generation Vantage’s most intimidating looks, and you’re left with a car overflowing with bravado.
    — Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The Man With the Bag is rated PG, which means there couldn’t possibly have been a moment where Schwarzenegger called his family, say, covered in fake blood or wielding an intimidating weapon.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of intimidating
Noun
  • Other prohibitions applied to energy drinks, candy, cake and other prepared desserts.
    — Benjamin Chrisinger, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The prohibition on gathering ramps extends to the Eastern Band of Cherokee, though a recent agreement with the National Park Service permits several dozen members to gather sochan within park boundaries.
    — Tovar Cerulli, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of prohibition
Verb
  • Nelson’s attorneys submitted a letter requesting an investigation into whether the city’s actions violated California law prohibiting the use of public resources for campaign activity.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But the starting assumption of these debates is that responsible business conduct legislation is inherently costly, and that weakening EU legislation and prohibiting more ambitious member state laws will reduce those costs.
    — Ben Vanpeperstraete, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of prohibiting
Adjective
  • The frightening part is that almost anyone can end up on the wrong side of these systems.
    — Edward Longe, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Sussman remembers the 1999 Glastonbury Festival as both frightening and unforgettable.
    — Maribeth Romslo, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of frightening
Adjective
  • Loneliness looms as a threat to all genders, but men, who are lauded for gruff stoicism and scorned for vulnerability, can be especially ill-equipped to navigate atomization.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • His reputation for having a gruff demeanor, Sweet says, is accurate, but attack ads that portray him as antagonistic toward women go too far.
    — Julia Terruso, Time, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of gruff
Noun
  • The measures include the banning and blocking certain features for users younger than 16.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 21 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
  • The Supreme Court agreed Monday to consider outlawing school diversity policies that limit Asian American students at magnet programs and selective high schools.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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 6 Nov. 2026.

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