1
as in terrifying
causing fear
a dark, forbidding house, that is reputed to be haunted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
told us in a forbidding voice to stop calling him by that name
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in prohibiting
the act of ordering that something not be done or used
the landlord's forbidding of loud music after 10:00 p.m.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in banning
to order not to do or use or to be done or used
smoking is forbidden throughout the building we forbid you to see him
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 forbidding
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
New York’s hospitality industry can be downright forbidding to outsiders.
—Vassi Chamberlain, airmail.news, 19 Oct. 2024
Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Mar. 2025
The silent close-ups of the people in the vehicle are subtly unsettling, while all around them rolls a beautiful, forbidding landscape.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forbidding
Adjective
Early on, the piece is spare and a bit forbidding, with relentless repetitions of solitary figures.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
New York’s hospitality industry can be downright forbidding to outsiders.
—Vassi Chamberlain, airmail.news, 19 Oct. 2024
Verb
There has been some discussion in the Texas Legislature to ban masks, especially after concerns about violent incidents linked to protests related to the Israel-Hamas war, but there are no laws in Texas forbidding them at protests.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Mar. 2025
The silent close-ups of the people in the vehicle are subtly unsettling, while all around them rolls a beautiful, forbidding landscape.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forbidding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forbidding
Adjective
-
The teaser trailer showcases the epic highs and lows of professional football, with a focus on the lows, as all of this looks terrifying.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
18 Apr. 2025
-
But despite the terrifying name, giant viruses aren’t necessarily any more dangerous than a standard-sized species.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The actor behind the gruff but lovable Roy Kent shared a purrfectly eccentric analogy about the show's return on a recent episode of NPR's Wild Card podcast.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Bowling paints with the rhythm of a gruff intellectual.—
James Russell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Smith, who is now winding down both his cases against the president-elect due to a longstanding Department of Justice policy prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president, has not provided any details about the contents of his report.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
8 Jan. 2025
-
That has prompted states including Colorado, New York and California to enact legislation prohibiting medical debt from being included on residents' credit reports or factored into their credit scores.—
Noam Levey,
NPR,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
After the frightening threat, the man suddenly ran off in an unknown direction.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Serena Joy Waterford is among the most frightening, dead-hearted women ever written for the small screen.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
While the prospect of facing Augusta National’s treacherous greens under major championship conditions would be overwhelmingly intimidating for most amateur golfers, McDermott is a unique case, to say the least.—
Erik Matuszewski,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Rory McIlroy commented on the missing trees on ten, apparently making the tee shot less intimidating — and that there is a little more room on the par-four third right side given the missing overhanging trees.—
Ashley J. DiMella Fox News,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
There is no prohibition against the Heat trading the 2025 first-round pick received from the Warriors.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Other bills introduced in Congress thus far have called for the prohibition of tax deductions or credits for marijuana businesses to continue, regardless of whether it is rescheduled.—
Addy Bink,
The Hill,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
There will be elections in Hungary next year, and Orbán, for the first time in decades, is facing a formidable challenger.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Mike has fostered a collaborative environment with a team committed to building a formidable global business – innovating and trailblazing at every level.—
Billboard Staff,
Billboard,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Raid 2, for instance, a two and a half hour crime and punishment epic, boils down to one man’s struggle to win the approval of his stern father; whether this is significant to Evans’ life or not, the motif nonetheless transitions cleanly into Havoc.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
26 Apr. 2025
-
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has issued a stern warning about a predatory fish that can grow up to 3 feet long, slither across land and breathe air.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forbidding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forbidding. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share