Definitions

forbidden fruit

[fer-bid-n froot, fawr-bid-n] / fərˈbɪd n ˈfrut, fɔrˈbɪd n /

NOUN

immoral indulgence

Synonyms

WEAK

desired object forbidden indulgence golden apple illegal indulgence illegal pleasure illicit love immoral pleasure no-no prohibited article prohibition taboo

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His WASPy Hubbell represents forbidden fruit to Streisand’s 1930s college activist; the movie gets its shout-out on “Sex and the City.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 16, 2025

It may be that the thought of breaking up with the offending food turns it into forbidden fruit, which makes you want it even more.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 4, 2024

This may be due to a "forbidden fruit" effect, which could make potentially aversive material more tempting to viewers.

From Science Daily • Oct. 12, 2023

Many biblical scholars assert Eve tempted Adam with the forbidden fruit on a Friday.

From DOGO News • Oct. 9, 2023

But during the seventeenth century, musicians intrigued by the forbidden fruit opened up by chord sequences increasingly sought to be able to move from one mode to another.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall