forbidden

[fer-bid-n, fawr-] / fərˈbɪd n, fɔr- /

ADJECTIVE

outlawed, prohibited

Synonyms

STRONGEST

outlawed prohibited

STRONG

banned closed no-go proscribed refused taboo vetoed

WEAK

black-market closed-down closed-up contraband no-no off-limits out of bounds verboten

Antonyms

STRONG

allowed

WEAK

approved authorized permitted sanctioned

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.

During his first term, China feted him like a favorite prince with various ceremonies: a private tour of the Forbidden City, followed by a performance by the Peking Opera and a huge state dinner.

From Salon • May 14, 2026

Joyce’s works had never been placed on the Vatican’s Index of Forbidden Books, but for decades after independence in 1922 they and countless others met opposition from the Roman Catholic Church.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

The Forbidden City was the heart of imperial China for more than 500 years and remains laden with symbolism of its powerful past.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

Turkey has been rapidly growing its military presence in the Forbidden Zone in recent years, but until now the scale of this expansion was not publicly known.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2025

The cheers and applause sent birds from the Forbidden Forest fluttering into the darkening sky.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

Vocabulary lists containing forbidden

Maniac Magee

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Code Talker

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

myPerspectives 8.2

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!