variants
also tabu
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also tabu
1
as in prohibition
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in anathema
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taboo
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 26 June 2025
Most of the sketches depict a central figure who violates a social taboo and doubles down on their unusual behavior, alienating their peers while mounting an impassioned self-defense.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 26 June 2025
Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025
This is the 1950s in the Midwest and the boy feels that his own deepest desires are taboo and therefore attempts to deny them.
—John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for taboo
Adjective
Wintour went on to break several fashion magazine taboos, including featuring a man on the cover — Richard Gere — who was photographed with his wife at the time, Cindy Crawford.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 26 June 2025
Most of the sketches depict a central figure who violates a social taboo and doubles down on their unusual behavior, alienating their peers while mounting an impassioned self-defense.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 26 June 2025
Noun
The group is creating an inviting, safe space to share the heartfelt experience of diving into a taboo topic which unites everyone.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025
This is the 1950s in the Midwest and the boy feels that his own deepest desires are taboo and therefore attempts to deny them.
—John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for taboo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taboo
Adjective
-
Benny and the Forbidden Garden, a 28-page book conceptualized and written by high-schoolers on the Placer County Youth Commission, follows a bunny who starts school and encounters a forbidden garden lush with intoxicating flowers.—
Calista Oetama,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2025
-
Her investigation reveals forbidden rituals and buried wartime secrets connected to a sealed cave, with supernatural forces closing in around her.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 May 2025
Noun
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The divided panel also said West Virginia’s prohibition violated the Medicaid Act and the Affordable Care Act.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
1 July 2025
-
The agreement involves provisions on territorial integrity and a prohibition of hostilities as well as the disengagement, disarmament and conditional integration of non-state armed groups.—
Chinedu Asadu,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
Generally, there’s an extra-ness to it that often proves critical anathema.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
1 July 2025
-
In Israel, Netanyahu has become anathema to moderate parties.—
Gershom Gorenberg,
The Atlantic,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
There is, however, room for questions about where the line between prohibited and acceptable political involvement will fall in practice.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
-
The list of prohibited and restricted items, as found on the CBP website, includes alcohol, biological materials, firearms, food and produce such as fruits and vegetables, soil, wildlife, fish, and gold, among other items.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
What was once considered a style no-no in cold weather has now become a bold statement.—
René Chávez Esparza,
Glamour,
13 July 2025
-
Hanák’s film upset the authorities for seeming to show the impoverishing effects of living under Communism, a big propaganda no-no at the time.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
12 July 2025
Noun
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The vanilla was the best, with a toasty, rounded flavor, raspberry was jammy and fine, and blueberry was a minor abomination, reminiscent of the warm pool of flavor syrup at the bottom of your snowcone.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
19 July 2025
-
While Bombshell took home the Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling in 2020, which was admittedly deserved in the case of Charlize Theron’s transformation into Megyn Kelly, Kidman’s wig was an abomination.—
Jihane Bousfiha,
Vulture,
2 July 2025
Noun
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On the ground, chanting protesters called for an oil embargo and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – echoing a threat made by Tehran during its 12-day war with Israel last month.—
Ruxandra Iordache,
CNBC,
11 July 2025
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That’s not to dismiss the China détente, as the de facto trade embargo between the world’s two largest economies that existed in April carried with it the potential to fracture the backbone of global commerce.—
Phil Mattingly,
CNN Money,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
Spaces that seem most interested in the permissiveness of perversion.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
25 June 2025
-
Enter the wannabe patriot dealing with some perversion of the psyche.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taboo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taboo. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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