as in prohibiting
the act of ordering that something not be done or used
the outlawing of cell phone use by motorists is intended to reduce accidents caused by distracted driving
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in banning
to make or declare contrary to the law
a push to outlaw smoking in all public buildings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forbidding
to order not to do or use or to be done or used
fed up with the constant interruptions, the physician has outlawed all cell phone use from his office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of outlawing
Idaho Statesman, 26 Jan. 2026
Chicago aldermen approved a sweeping ban outlawing unlicensed businesses in the city from selling all but a few hemp products.
—Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
The challengers compared Hawaii’s law, which was enacted a year later, to states that resisted the Supreme Court’s 1954 landmark decision outlawing racial segregation in schools.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2026
In 2022, Maui County broadened the statewide ban one step further by outlawing non-mineral sunscreens from Maui, Lanai and Molokai.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
Set in 1878 Japan, Last Samurai Standing takes place in the post-feudal period when the few remaining samurai have become personas non grata, with a rapidly modernizing Japanese society shunning the once great warriors, and outlawing their swords.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 16 Nov. 2025
The legislature also passed a law outlawing the use of Medicaid for gender-affirming care.
—Sarah Henry, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Oct. 2025
The floodplain has been redrawn wider than ever, outlawing home construction in new danger zones.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
His congressional pawns could have passed a law outlawing ridicule of the president.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
But some lawmakers in the State Affairs Committee bristled at the idea of outlawing all city and county flags.
—Idaho Statesman, 26 Jan. 2026
Chicago aldermen approved a sweeping ban outlawing unlicensed businesses in the city from selling all but a few hemp products.
—Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
The challengers compared Hawaii’s law, which was enacted a year later, to states that resisted the Supreme Court’s 1954 landmark decision outlawing racial segregation in schools.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2026
In 2022, Maui County broadened the statewide ban one step further by outlawing non-mineral sunscreens from Maui, Lanai and Molokai.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
Set in 1878 Japan, Last Samurai Standing takes place in the post-feudal period when the few remaining samurai have become personas non grata, with a rapidly modernizing Japanese society shunning the once great warriors, and outlawing their swords.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 16 Nov. 2025
The legislature also passed a law outlawing the use of Medicaid for gender-affirming care.
—Sarah Henry, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Oct. 2025
The floodplain has been redrawn wider than ever, outlawing home construction in new danger zones.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
His congressional pawns could have passed a law outlawing ridicule of the president.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outlawing
Verb
-
In addition to West Virginia, six other states have targeted food dyes with new laws or executive orders, requiring warning labels on food with certain dyes or banning the sale of such products in schools.—
Alan Greenblatt,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
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Last year, the court upheld a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors — a ruling with repercussions across the country.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Preventing public input The restroom language was abruptly added to a bill that had been solely focused on prohibiting the Department of Revenue from accommodating gender marker change requests on state identification documents.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
29 Jan. 2026
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Democrats are seeking changes to immigration enforcement in exchange for their votes to continue funding the government, including requiring federal agents to wear body cameras, ending the crackdown in Minneapolis and other cities and prohibiting agents from wearing masks.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Others, including prohibitions on universal vote-by-mail and ranked choice voting -- two voting methods that have proved popular in some states -- would happen immediately.—
LISA MASCARO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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During the prohibition era, the cave used trap doors and movable brick walls to hide liquor from law enforcement.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mahan has described such policies as more compassionate than leaving people to suffer on the streets indefinitely, but advocates have accused him of criminalizing homelessness.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
An Indiana bill criminalizing doxing passed on second reading in the Senate Thursday with an amendment attached.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Her agents in Chicago have used chemical sprays on protesters multiple times despite a court order forbidding them from doing so.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
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However, Peled’s move challenges the longstanding status quo forbidding Jewish worship at the site, due to a combination of prohibitions imposed by the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf and Orthodox rabbis.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outlawing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outlawing. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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