PROHIBIT Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'prohibit' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of prohibit are forbid , inhibit , and interdict . While all these words mean "to debar one from doing something or to order that something not be done," prohibit suggests the issuing of laws, statutes, or regulations. // prohibited the sale of liquor

Q: When can 'forbid' be used instead of 'prohibit'?

In some situations, the words forbid and prohibit are roughly equivalent. However, forbid implies that the order is from one in authority and that obedience is expected. // smoking is forbidden in the building

Q: When is it sensible to use 'inhibit' instead of 'prohibit'?

The synonyms inhibit and prohibit are sometimes interchangeable, but inhibit implies restraints or restrictions that amount to prohibitions, not only by authority but also by the exigencies of the time or situation. // conditions inhibiting the growth of free trade

Q: When could 'interdict' be used to replace 'prohibit'?

While the synonyms interdict and prohibit are close in meaning, interdict implies prohibition by civil or ecclesiastical authority usually for a given time or a declared purpose. // practices interdicted by the church

prohibit

verb

prō-ˈhi-bət

Definition of prohibit

as in to forbid

to order not to do or use or to be done or used the city prohibits swimming in the lake after dark

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How does the verb prohibit differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of prohibit are forbid, inhibit, and interdict. While all these words mean "to debar one from doing something or to order that something not be done," prohibit suggests the issuing of laws, statutes, or regulations.

prohibited the sale of liquor

When can forbid be used instead of prohibit?

In some situations, the words forbid and prohibit are roughly equivalent. However, forbid implies that the order is from one in authority and that obedience is expected.

smoking is forbidden in the building

When is it sensible to use inhibit instead of prohibit?

The synonyms inhibit and prohibit are sometimes interchangeable, but inhibit implies restraints or restrictions that amount to prohibitions, not only by authority but also by the exigencies of the time or situation.

conditions inhibiting the growth of free trade

When could interdict be used to replace prohibit?

While the synonyms interdict and prohibit are close in meaning, interdict implies prohibition by civil or ecclesiastical authority usually for a given time or a declared purpose.

practices interdicted by the church

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 prohibit But this district is choosing to extend the policy prohibiting technology between classes and during lunch, which some parents are not happy about. — Julia Avant, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 Meta will be subject to an injunction prohibiting it from making further false, misleading, or deceptive statements around its safety features. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026 Bald eagles are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, so killing, selling or otherwise harming eagles, their nests or eggs is strictly prohibited. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Schools Public schools, colleges and universities must define antisemitism and prohibit antisemitic conduct under a law passed earlier this year. — Jack Harvel august 26, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prohibit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prohibit

Verb

Francis Lufkin, whose job was to climb into trees and retrieve parachutes, had been forbidden to jump out of planes by his wife.

— M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
The uptick rule forbade a short seller from knocking a stock down by endlessly selling it no matter what.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of forbid

Verb

And earlier this year, the nation’s second largest school district, Los Angeles Unified, banned in-school screen use for students in preschool through first grade and curbed screen time for older students.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Walruses were once hunted in vast numbers, for their blubber, hides and ivory, driving them close to extinction in Svalbard’s waters, before hunting was banned in 1952.

— Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of ban

Verb

Increasingly, schools are outlawing mobile phones — as Maryland did in May of this year — and digital detox retreats are rising in popularity.

— Thu T. Nguyen, Baltimore Sun, 27 Aug. 2026
Those of us with a platform need to use our voices before speaking out is outlawed altogether.

— Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of outlaw

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

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