taboo 1 of 2

adjective

tə-ˈbü How to pronounce taboo (audio)
variants also tabu
Definition of taboonext
as in forbidden
that may not be permitted asking a guest how much money he or she makes is strictly taboo because it's a rude question to ask a stranger

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

taboo

2 of 2

noun

variants also tabu
1
as in prohibition

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in anathema

Related Words

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 taboo
Adjective
Istanbul attracts actors, athletes, musicians and creators seeking denser hairlines and more natural results, helping transform what was once a taboo procedure into routine maintenance. — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026 Eleni Sadik would likely be considered a taboo role by Turkish censors. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 July 2026
Noun
The framework outlines strategies like taboo breaking, normalization, reframing, and sanitization, recognizing that stigma is multifaceted. — Rachel Braun Scherl, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 And so the taboo there is, yeah, politicians could bribe rich people. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for taboo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taboo
  1. forbidden
  2. prohibition
  3. anathema
  4. no-no
  5. abomination
  6. embargo
  7. perversion
  8. restriction
Adjective
  • Their forbidden love leads the Jade Emperor to decree their separation on opposite sides of the Milky Way.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • To control the dangerous unfettered use of magic, an oversight council established ground rules on what is considered forbidden magic and the knowledge of its existence.
    — Kalai Chik, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of forbidden
Noun
  • Even the Genius Act’s prohibition on direct interest payments was based more on myth than merit.
    — Omid Malekan, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The initial village news release announcing the event had also said that future village board meetings would include additional public safety measures, including pre-entry screening and a prohibition on bags, backpacks, and similar items.
    — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of prohibition
Noun
  • Over the ensuing decades, however, advertising became something anathema to Hollywood.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
  • His alliance with the far-right of American politics is anathema to the over 70% of Jewish Americans who vote Democratic.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of anathema
Noun
  • Additionally, make sure to toss any fleece blankets, Peck adds, noting that keeping them on display—or worse, using them as sofa covers—is a major no-no for adults.
    — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Apparently, the broadcast producer decided this was a no-no and either didn’t let Chex know or realized too late what was happening.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of no-no
Noun
  • It a thematic fit, and after nearly 200 episodes, there’s no doubting this team’s ability to deliver fresh, new abominations.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026
  • And that was before the abomination — three-parts Netflix advertising event and one-part baseball game — even happened.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 13 July 2026
Definition of abomination
Noun
  • Despite being tightly controlled, technologically backward, and subject to crippling Western trade embargoes, the country has recorded year-on-year GDP growth of more than 3%, of which many advanced economies could only dream.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates—which has historically offered Iran vital access to global markets—has already declared an embargo on trade and transactions with the Islamic Republic.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of embargo
Noun
  • The leprous, lascivious body was a perversion that Western proselytizing could fix.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
  • More broadly, this same chain of logic turns the Voting Rights Act into a zombie law, a perversion of its intended purpose that now mostly protects white Americans from any attempts to break their disproportionate control of voting machinery.
    — Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
Definition of perversion
Noun
  • Those restrictions formally sunset in 2022, but so far only Sony has done a major deal for cinemas, acquiring all 35 Alamo Drafthouse locations in 2024.
    — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • And at the state level, Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) in February introduced AB 2595, which would allow San Mateo County to impose age restrictions for e-bike riders under 12 years old in its jurisdiction.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of restriction

Browse Nearby Words

tabloids
taboo
taboos
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Taboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taboo. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on taboo

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about taboo

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 kith

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

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

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

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
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
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All