1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

off-limits

adjective

Definition of off-limitsnext
as in private

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 off-limits Similar initiatives are bringing visitors into other parts of Caracas that were long seen as off-limits, including the barrios of Petare and Cota 905. — Tibisay Zea, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026 One of my favorites is FAI Autumn Days, a weekend when the Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI) opens the doors to some of the city’s most spectacular off-limits places. — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2026 The luxury pods — complete with lie-flat beds and sliding privacy doors — could be entirely off-limits when departure day rolls around, sitting completely empty at 35,000 feet. — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026 That means the rooms where the Wales family once lived, entertained guests, and posed for rare official photos remain off-limits. — Emma Banks, InStyle, 12 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for off-limits
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off-limits
  1. private
  2. closed
  3. restricted
  4. limited
  5. exclusive
Adjective
  • The Aries Full Moon illuminates your private 12th house, bringing an old emotion, habit, memory, or attachment closer to the surface.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • For a special occasion, reserve a sunset or moonlit dinner in one of four private cabanas on the sand.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of private
Adjective
  • The building has existed as some version of a hotel or inn since the mid-1800s, but the iteration most locals knew and loved closed in 1999 and remained closed until 2023.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The witness said Melton hit the victim in the face with a closed fist, the report says.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of closed
Adjective
  • Women who have a restricted diet and may not get enough iron-rich foods, those who have absorption issues or those who have particularly heavy menstrual cycles may be more likely to have lower iron levels.
    — Lindsey Bever, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2026
  • In order to set off a bioweapon, for example, AI models (without people) would somehow have to access sensitive and highly restricted material, enter incredibly sophisticated laboratories, operate this equipment, and determine mechanisms of release.
    — Rumman Chowdhury, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of restricted
Adjective
  • The series also won the Emmy for outstanding music composition for a limited or anthology series, movie or special (original dramatic score).
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The city would be better off spending its limited resources on improving student performance in the lower grades so students can better perform on the SHSAT exam when the time comes.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of limited
Adjective
  • Keller/Noll was sought out for the Goliath partnership by Perfect Game, which holds exclusive global media rights to Goliath games.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Fans hoping to gain access to the artist pre-sale for the Roundhouse concert can pre-order any 20th anniversary edition of Back To Black from Winehouse’s official store by 12pm on Monday (September 28) to receive an exclusive pre-sale code.
    — Nick Reilly, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of exclusive

Browse Nearby Words

off-kilter
off-limits
off-load
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Off-limits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-limits. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of epistemic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All