PROHIBITIVE Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

prohibitive

adjective

Definition of prohibitive

as in exorbitant

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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 prohibitive This includes the prohibitive cost of total economic decoupling and the catastrophic consequences of potential military conflict. — Da Wei, Foreign Affairs, 7 Sep. 2026 The Rams are prohibitive favorites by oddsmakers to win the Super Bowl after Donald rejoined the team Sunday following a two-year retirement. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 Regrettably, his mother was unable to attend the match in person due to the prohibitive cost of visa fees. — CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 The cost of attending has become eye-watering at best, prohibitive at worst. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prohibitive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prohibitive

Adjective

Prices may seem a little exorbitant, but the portions are more than generous.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
But the annual exorbitant expense is set to spike even higher next year as Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration forecasts a $401 million price tag for such deals and verdicts in 2027.

— Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of exorbitant

Adjective

But several individually reasonable events, viewed together and over time, can tell an unreasonable story.

— Shahen Minasyan, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026
At the outset of the Biden administration in January 2021, NASA was still targeting a 2024 lunar landing, even though this was widely seen as unreasonable.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of unreasonable

Adjective

Much of the enrollment decline, experts say, isn’t due to eliminating fraud but because coverage became unaffordable after the end of the enhanced tax credits.

— Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2026
But for a sport the size of fencing, turning down attention is an unaffordable luxury.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of unaffordable

Adjective

Plant operators will be able to stretch their operating cycles to 24 months, cutting down on expensive refueling outages and keeping the plant running continuously for longer stretches.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
The couple found another vet to operate on Apex’s shoulder, but because his condition was worse, the surgery was more expensive.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of expensive

Adjective

Canada, the United States’ largest trading partner, suspended trade negotiations in August after the administration introduced last-minute demands, which Prime Minister Mark Carney described as uneconomic and unfair.

— JONAS NAHM, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026
As cheaper models become uneconomic to produce, manufacturers are pruning them from their line-ups, pushing the overall market higher.

— Celestine Iyer, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of uneconomic

Adjective

One of the biggest lessons from 2026 was the importance of finishing games and avoiding a costly losing streak.

— Brandon Liguori, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026
The Browns outlasted the Carolina Panthers, 21-18, dropping the Panthers to 1-2 on a day that was costly in many ways.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of costly

Adjective

In this environment, a beat and raise might be the bare minimum to avoid a steep post-earnings decline.

— Matthew J. Belvedere,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
Aquilina also explained that Luminate data pointed to binge releases tending to see big spikes in viewership but steep drops, while weekly releases maintain consistent engagement.

— Andrew Wallenstein, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of steep

Adjective

Cancer patients are selling their televisions and refrigerators to buy overpriced medication.

— Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
Volkswagen Meanwhile the struggling VW hierarchy has to prove to the motoring world that the new GTI is a genuine leap forward for the electric hot hatch – not an overpriced attempt to cash in on a legendary nameplate.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of overpriced

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“Prohibitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prohibitive. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of prohibitive

adjective

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