as in prohibiting
the act of ordering that something not be done or used
most of the restaurant's customers applauded the barring of the use of cell phones in the dining room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in except
not including
we'll be there, barring rain or some other unexpected problem
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in forbidding
to order not to do or use or to be done or used
corporal punishment has long been barred in most public schools
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in excluding
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of
beach-goers are barred from walking in roped-off sections of the beach to protect nesting birds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in guarding
to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point
the bikeway was barred by a huge fallen tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 barring
Charles Trepany, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
The lawsuit is challenging a requirement that these parents be placed on a state registry, barring them from certain jobs.
—Shoshana Walter, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
The order for Rounds 1 and 2 is set, barring future trades.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The Denver Post projects that at least one of the nine outfielders currently on the 40-man roster won’t be with the club when the regular season begins, and barring an injury, the Rockies will carry Doyle, Beck, Moniak, McCarthy, Freeman and Castro on the Opening Day roster.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2026
Personal luxury goods took the biggest hit, dropping from $435 billion in spending in 2023 to $429 billion in 2024, the category’s first contraction in 15 years, barring the pandemic.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
The Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission started the landmark application process in January 2024, barring the owners from destroying the house in the meantime.
—Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The Manhattan Federal Court complaint against Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the State Department says a policy categorically barring visa applicants from 75 countries is based on demonstrably false claims that immigrants of specific nationalities rely on cash welfare.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 2 Feb. 2026
Immigration arrests have also occurred at least 33 times after Austin police have contacted ICE, a practice Davis has said exists because state law prohibits the department from barring officers from communicating with federal authorities.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
Gen Z is 'monkey barring' — not cheating.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
The proposal bolsters a 2017 law generally barring cities from passing laws to limit short-term rentals.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
The lawsuit is challenging a requirement that these parents be placed on a state registry, barring them from certain jobs.
—Shoshana Walter, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
The order for Rounds 1 and 2 is set, barring future trades.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The Denver Post projects that at least one of the nine outfielders currently on the 40-man roster won’t be with the club when the regular season begins, and barring an injury, the Rockies will carry Doyle, Beck, Moniak, McCarthy, Freeman and Castro on the Opening Day roster.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2026
Personal luxury goods took the biggest hit, dropping from $435 billion in spending in 2023 to $429 billion in 2024, the category’s first contraction in 15 years, barring the pandemic.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
The Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission started the landmark application process in January 2024, barring the owners from destroying the house in the meantime.
—Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The Manhattan Federal Court complaint against Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the State Department says a policy categorically barring visa applicants from 75 countries is based on demonstrably false claims that immigrants of specific nationalities rely on cash welfare.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 2 Feb. 2026
Immigration arrests have also occurred at least 33 times after Austin police have contacted ICE, a practice Davis has said exists because state law prohibits the department from barring officers from communicating with federal authorities.
—Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barring
Preposition
-
At Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, face masks are required in public areas, except when dining or swimming, capacity of public areas will be limited, and housekeeping and public area attendants will increase their cleaning procedures.—
Elizabeth Rhodes,
Travel + Leisure,
4 June 2020
-
The city advised all residents to stay inside except those going to and from work and anyone seeking or giving emergency care, according to Mayor Eric Garcetti's official Twitter account.—
NBC News,
NBC News,
1 June 2020
Verb
-
The amendment would also cut smaller public works construction projects, cut the line striping budget, reduce the budget for asphalt patching, cut vehicle maintenance operating budget and cut the building maintenance budget.—
Erik S. Hanley,
jsonline.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Crews will install barrier walls, patch potholes, and perform striping work during the closures.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
On Wednesday, a Knoxville judge granted Aguilar a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, prohibiting the governing body from restricting Aguilar’s eligibility before an injunction hearing.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
There isn’t a Texas law prohibiting gender identity teaching.—
Samuel O’Neal
February 4,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This, to justify excluding sociology classes as meeting core requirements, now the status quo for all state universities in Florida.—
Wendy Nelson Espeland,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
For the first nine months of the year, sales globally were up 1%, excluding the impact of currency exchange rates.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mercury is in your sign, squaring breakthrough Uranus in your 4th House of Roots, challenging you to consider new ideas while guarding your foundations.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
-
But the Lakers need someone who can start halves guarding the point of attack.—
Dan Woike,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
True to its founding fight over censorship and book banning, the institution remains a bastion dedicated to the transformative power of the book.—
Gioia Woods,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Leo Strauss, one of Plato’s most important modern interpreters, was a refugee from Nazi Germany, where the banning and burning of subversive books was extremely popular, especially with college students.—
Adam Kirsch,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Preposition
-
But his death had many contributing factors besides being unable to breath while face down on the ground.—
Kevin Grasha,
Cincinnati.com,
2 June 2020
-
The airline’s crew members and ground services personnel are undergoing detailed health check-ups at regular intervals, besides wearing protective gear at all times.—
Niharika Sharma,
Quartz India,
31 May 2020
Verb
-
Off a pass from Alex Carpenter, Knight went streaking up the right side of the ice, fended off a defender and then flicked a goal into the top of the net.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
-
As the pulse locks in, organ drones arc overhead like streaking cirrus clouds.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Barring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barring. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
