as in prohibiting
the act of ordering that something not be done or used
the outlawing of cell phone use by motorists is intended to reduce accidents caused by distracted driving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in banning
to make or declare contrary to the law
a push to outlaw smoking in all public buildings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forbidding
to order not to do or use or to be done or used
fed up with the constant interruptions, the physician has outlawed all cell phone use from his office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of outlawing
Nada Bashir, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
The administration shied away from outlawing such investments outright in 401(k)s.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
This year also marks the 75th anniversary of an extraordinary case of student activism that helped lead to the Supreme Court’s decision outlawing segregated schools.
—Jonathan Entin, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Mariya Taher, co-founder and executive director of Sahiyo, a nonprofit fighting female genital mutilation, said the existence of state legislation outlawing the practice helps to counter beliefs in certain communities that female genital mutilation is necessary for girls.
—Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026
These and other developments make this a moment of reckoning for lawmakers and wildlife officials who have repeatedly resisted outlawing vehicular killing of wildlife, or who have shied away from strengthening anti-cruelty laws.
—Wendy Keefover, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Sergio, a commentator and broadcast journalist for both NBC and ABC, was cited for signing a petition that urged outlawing antisemitism.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
In 1875 Congress passed a civil rights act outlawing racial discrimination, but in 1883 the US Supreme Court invalidated the law.
—Literary Hub, 4 Mar. 2026
Criminalizing 'unlawful alert' and outlawing whistle blowing Senate Bill 1635 turns notifying someone that law enforcement is about to arrest them into a crime.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Lebanese government, which includes political representatives from Hezbollah, has also moved to put pressure on the group, outlawing its paramilitary wing and ordering the country’s security forces to rid the capital, Beirut, of all non-state arms.
—Nada Bashir, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
The administration shied away from outlawing such investments outright in 401(k)s.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
This year also marks the 75th anniversary of an extraordinary case of student activism that helped lead to the Supreme Court’s decision outlawing segregated schools.
—Jonathan Entin, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Mariya Taher, co-founder and executive director of Sahiyo, a nonprofit fighting female genital mutilation, said the existence of state legislation outlawing the practice helps to counter beliefs in certain communities that female genital mutilation is necessary for girls.
—Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026
These and other developments make this a moment of reckoning for lawmakers and wildlife officials who have repeatedly resisted outlawing vehicular killing of wildlife, or who have shied away from strengthening anti-cruelty laws.
—Wendy Keefover, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Sergio, a commentator and broadcast journalist for both NBC and ABC, was cited for signing a petition that urged outlawing antisemitism.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
In 1875 Congress passed a civil rights act outlawing racial discrimination, but in 1883 the US Supreme Court invalidated the law.
—Literary Hub, 4 Mar. 2026
Criminalizing 'unlawful alert' and outlawing whistle blowing Senate Bill 1635 turns notifying someone that law enforcement is about to arrest them into a crime.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outlawing
Verb
-
Public libraries in 2025 navigated a year that saw the challenging, and banning of, thousands of books, stiffer budgetary limits and federal threats to funding.—
Adeel Hassan,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
This gets back to the partisan gerrymandering issue, which Congress, of course, could pass a law tomorrow banning partisan gerrymandering.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
According to the district attorney’s office, children ages 11 to 14 accounted for nearly 62% of e-motorcycle crashes statewide despite California law prohibiting riders under 16 from operating e-motorcycles.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
14 May 2026
-
The Cannes Film Festival updated its dress code in 2025, prohibiting guests from showing nudity or wearing voluminous outfits on the red carpet.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
For communities most affected by cannabis criminalization, the financial relief flowing to licensed operators represents a specific industry reform, not a broader resolution of prohibition’s legacy.—
Javier Hasse,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
The Senate bill included a temporary prohibition through 2030 rather than a permanent ban, which some conservative lawmakers supported.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Civil liberties advocates say the settlement underscores First Amendment protections for controversial online speech and warns law enforcement nationwide to tread carefully when criminalizing social media posts.—
R.j. Rico,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
-
Under President John Adams, the Federalists sought to eradicate French ideological influence by raising the bar to citizenship, lowering the bar to deportation, and criminalizing malicious criticism of the federal government.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The heavy context makes Marseille a particularly forbidding environment for young players, which Ethan Nwaneri has discovered to his cost since arriving on loan from Arsenal in January.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
The play begins with a forbidding thumping on a glass window outside a bare bones upstairs apartment where B lives a subsistence-level life with his mother.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outlawing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outlawing. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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