off-limits

adjective

Definition of off-limitsnext
as in private

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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 off-limits She is buried on an island at the center of the ornamental lake known as The Round Oval within Althorp Park's Pleasure Garden, and her gravesite is off-limits to the public. — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026 Further up, life was slowly starting to return downtown with the grounds of the national palace once more serving as the seat of the government after years of being off-limits due to the violence. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 June 2026 As a result, popular shows and movies that many kids love are off-limits for others. — Parents, 16 June 2026 Additionally, Russia has ramped up attacks on civilian centers usually considered off-limits in wartime, such as a 1,000-year-old cathedral and monastery complex in Kyiv that was bombed Sunday night, killing three people. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 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
  • Gabriella paid off most of his entourage to leave him and the band alone and is now basically his own private Joe Jackson, pressuring him to record nonstop.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 6 July 2026
  • The Castro family has been linked, through GAESA chiefly, to a lucrative world of hotels, banks, retail monopolies, foreign-currency businesses, foreign private compounds and offshore accounts.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of private
Adjective
  • Normally busy midtown streets around the construction site also remained closed.
    — Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • The meetings were led by China's Ministry of Commerce, according to Reuters, and those present discussed limiting both closed-source and open-source models.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 8 July 2026
Definition of closed
Adjective
  • Another man has been charged with operating an unregistered drone in restricted airspace around Dallas Stadium during the FIFA World Cup, federal attorneys said Friday.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026
  • In a separate interview, another person familiar with the situation — who has been involved in past intelligence investigations involving Venezuelan officials — offered additional allegations about the restricted zone.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Definition of restricted
Adjective
  • Most of those new households are dual-income with limited free time.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
  • The Fever committed 17 turnovers, which the Sparks (9-11) converted into 22 points, and star Caitlin Clark scored her second-fewest point total this season with just nine in limited minutes.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of limited
Adjective
  • Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.
    — Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 9 July 2026
  • Subscribe here to our newsletter, In Review by David Ehrlich, in which our Chief Film Critic and Head Reviews Editor rounds up the best new reviews and streaming picks along with some exclusive musings — all only available to subscribers.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 July 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 11 Jul. 2026.

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