BANNING Synonyms: 147 Similar and Opposite Words

banning 1 of 2

noun

Definition of banning

as in prohibiting

the act of ordering that something not be done or used the banning of the use of foul language at town council meetings was long overdue

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

banning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of ban

as in forbidding

to order not to do or use or to be done or used the company absolutely bans smoking within its buildings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in excluding

to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of the university banned those caught in the cheating scandal from graduation ceremonies

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 banning

Noun

Rescues during holidays have declined in recent years, owing to the prohibition of alcohol on Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the Fourth of July, along with the banning of diving along the Clay Banks, Nunez said. — Reeti Malhotra july 10, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026 The talk was organized by local synagogues and the Chattanooga Jewish Federation in response to the banning of the novel by a nearby Tennessee school district a month prior. — Spin Team, SPIN, 22 June 2026 The reforms led to the creation of the forward pass and the banning of dangerous formations. — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026 Magyar’s focus on the economy means reform of Hungary’s draconian anti-LGBTQ+ laws, which currently includes the banning of Pride marches and fines for promoting homosexuality in schools, may not be a priority. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026 Still, Sylvain sees the banning of innocent users as a potential overcorrection. — Annie Joy Williams, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026 Board members who have personal agendas – for example book banning, cell phone usage, gender and pronoun issues, history lessons, religious instruction – may be looking for a leader who feels similarly. — Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026 Against the backdrop of ’90s theatricality, the most meaningful gesture of the week remains the banning of phones. — Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026 These included the banning of the works of Rabindranath Tagore, the Indian Bengali poet and Nobel laureate, and Pres. — Andrew Pereira, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Mar. 2026

Verb

In New York, a bill banning surveillance pricing is awaiting the governor’s signature. — Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 This month, the bureau's parent agency, the Commerce Department, quietly cut language banning political interference from the department's scientific integrity policy, NPR has learned. — Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026 Ten states have banned or considered banning it, according to a 2024 Government Accountability Office report. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Sharp-Collins said legislation banning the gloves was necessary to prevent possible harm. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026 This is different from the broader trend of newer nightclubs banning phones and other devices, too. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026 The June carve-out banning iPhones, iPads, televisions, diamonds, gift cards and precious metals from Surprise Sets probably isn’t the last. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 There is evidence suggesting that banning social media or setting restrictions on social media companies doesn’t tend to work. — Cindy Carcamo, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026 The New Jersey bill prohibits landlords and homeowners associations from banning plug-in solar systems while Colorado and Virginia laws give tenants the right to install plug-in solar panels. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for banning

Noun

Even the Genius Act’s prohibition on direct interest payments was based more on myth than merit.

— Omid Malekan, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
The initial village news release announcing the event had also said that future village board meetings would include additional public safety measures, including pre-entry screening and a prohibition on bags, backpacks, and similar items.

— Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of prohibition

Verb

After eleven slaveholding states seceded to form the Confederacy, Republican lawmakers passed and Lincoln signed a bill that flouted Dred Scott by prohibiting slavery in the territories.

— Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
That eventually led to laws in 1866 and 1868 prohibiting home stills, which were difficult for government inspectors to find.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of prohibiting

Verb

In the nineteen-forties, the American Federation of Musicians fought for higher royalty rates by going on strike, forbidding its members from making new commercial recordings for more than two years.

— Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
This is the same genius who just a few months ago gave all these scooter riders the freedom to go down one-way streets the wrong way, not having to stop for red lights or stop signs, by forbidding police from writing criminal summonses to them.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of forbidding

Verb

Her leadership has been central to SMUD’s goal of eliminating carbon emissions from its power supply by 2030.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Burke said the Texans are also working on eliminating miscommunications, improvement that, again, can come with time together.

— Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of eliminating

Verb

Southern Nevada has already dramatically reduced its use of Colorado River water by about 40% over the last 25 years, including by aggressively promoting the removal of thirsty grass and outlawing front-yard lawns for new subdivisions.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Some leagues will require the same number of players to switch teams, essentially outlawing a 2-for-1 or 3-for-2 exchange.

— Sports Betting, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of outlawing

Verb

Two days after the Southeastern Conference passed a rule barring players from returning to the conference from the pros, a Texas judge put that rule on hold Thursday in a case involving more than 40 players.

— Eddie Pells, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Under Texas law and barring extradition, Castro had to be released Thursday after 90 days in detention.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of barring

Verb

The ability to monitor and identify unwanted behavior by AI agents in real-time or near real-time is critical to preventing another breach like this—perhaps one with even more serious consequences, such as an attack on a bank or hospital.

— Emily Forlini, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Leaving the coil uninsulated allows heat and excess current to bypass hot spots, preventing damage and keeping the system stable.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of preventing

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“Banning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banning. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of banning

noun

verb

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