prohibitive
adjective
pro·hib·i·tive
prō-ˈhi-bə-tiv 
prə-
1
: tending to prohibit or restrain
2
: tending to preclude use or purchase
prohibitive costs
3
: almost certain to perform as predicted
a prohibitive favorite
prohibitively
adverb
prohibitiveness
noun
Examples of prohibitive in a Sentence
the prohibitive cost of rent
Recent Examples on the Web
Daryl Joseffer, the Chamber’s executive vice president, said in a statement the $100,000 fee makes H-1B visas cost prohibitive.
—
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Adding more sensors increases capability without introducing prohibitive alignment challenges.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Dec. 2025
Alison Beshai yearned for an outlet where design education didn’t have to be cost prohibitive or require a degree.
—Emma Orlow, Curbed, 19 Dec. 2025
The rules don’t prohibit states from using their own funds to reimburse providers for transgender care, but the costs would be prohibitive.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prohibitive
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Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Adding more sensors increases capability without introducing prohibitive alignment challenges.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Dec. 2025
Alison Beshai yearned for an outlet where design education didn’t have to be cost prohibitive or require a degree.
—Emma Orlow, Curbed, 19 Dec. 2025
The rules don’t prohibit states from using their own funds to reimburse providers for transgender care, but the costs would be prohibitive.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prohibitive
Cite this Entry
“Prohibitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prohibitive. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prohibitive
adjective
pro·hib·i·tive
prō-ˈhib-ət-iv
: likely to discourage use or purchase
prohibitive prices
prohibitively
adverb
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