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Definitions

no-no

[noh-noh] / ˈnoʊˌnoʊ /
ADJECTIVE
forbidden
Synonyms
STRONGEST
outlawed prohibited
STRONG
banned closed no-go proscribed refused taboo vetoed
WEAK
black-market closed-down closed-up contraband off-limits out of bounds verboten
Antonyms
STRONG
allowed
WEAK
approved authorized permitted sanctioned
ADJECTIVE
impermissible
Synonyms
WEAK
banned closed closed-down closed-up contraband off-limits out of bounds proscribed refused taboo verboten vetoed
ADJECTIVE
off-limits
Synonyms
STRONGEST
banned barred illegal prohibited restricted
WEAK
against the law forbidden illicit impermissible not allowed not permitted out of bounds outlawed taboo unlawful verboten
Antonyms
STRONG
allowed permitted
ADJECTIVE
prohibited
Synonyms
STRONGEST
banned barred contraband illegal illicit restricted
STRONG
crooked proscribed refused taboo vetoed
WEAK
black-market closed-down not allowed not approved off-limits out of bounds out of line shady verboten wildcat
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allowed lawful legal legitimate
WEAK
permitted
ADJECTIVE
unauthorized
Synonyms
STRONGEST
illegal illegitimate pirated unapproved unconstitutional unjustified unlawful unofficial unwarranted wrongful
WEAK
crooked dirty off base out of bounds out of line over the line shady under-the-table unsanctioned wildcat
Antonyms
STRONGEST
authorized ethical good justifiable lawful legal legitimate moral reasonable right warranted
WEAK
allowable official permitted
NOUN
ban
Synonyms
STRONGEST
boycott censorship embargo injunction prohibition refusal restriction
STRONG
interdiction limitation proscription stoppage suppression taboo
WEAK
a thou-shalt-not don't off-limits out of bounds
Antonyms
STRONGEST
approval sanction
WEAK
allowance permission
NOUN
constraint
Synonyms
STRONGEST
pressure restraint
STRONG
coercion compulsion driving duress goad hang-up impulsion monkey on one's back motive necessity repression spring spur suppression violence
WEAK
a must impelling
Antonyms
STRONG
deterrent discouragement freedom hindrance liberty
WEAK
aggression allowance permission
NOUN
curse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bane expletive obscenity profanity whammy
STRONG
anathema ban blaspheming blasphemy commination cursing cussing damning denunciation execration fulmination imprecation malediction oath obloquy profanation sacrilege swearing vilification
WEAK
cuss word dirty name dirty word double whammy four-letter word malison naughty words objuration swear word
Antonyms
STRONG
compliment piety praise reverence
NOUN
forbidden fruit
Synonyms
WEAK
desired object forbidden indulgence golden apple illegal indulgence illegal pleasure illicit love immoral pleasure prohibited article prohibition taboo
NOUN
interdiction
Synonyms
STRONGEST
suppression
STRONG
ban boycott censorship embargo inhibition injunction limitation prohibition proscription refusal restriction stoppage taboo
WEAK
a thou-shalt-not disallowance don't off-limits out of bounds
Antonyms
STRONG
allowance approval freedom permission release sanction
NOUN
malediction
Synonyms
STRONG
anathema commination cuss damn damnation darn denunciation execration expletive imprecation jinx oath whammy
WEAK
curse word cuss word damning dirty name dirty word four-letter word swear word
Antonyms
WEAK
blessing
NOUN
oath
Synonyms
STRONG
blasphemy cuss expletive imprecation malediction profanity swearword
WEAK
cuss word dirty name dirty word four-letter word strong language
Antonyms
WEAK
break kindness pleasantry
NOUN
profanity
Synonyms
STRONGEST
four-letter word obscenity swearing
STRONG
abuse blasphemy curse cuss execration impiety imprecation irreverence malediction profaneness sacrilege swearword taboo
WEAK
cursing cuss word dirty language dirty name dirty word
Antonyms
STRONG
piety praise respect reverence
WEAK
clean language
NOUN
prohibition
Synonyms
STRONGEST
constraint embargo exclusion injunction prevention proscription restriction taboo veto
STRONG
bar interdict interdiction negation obstruction refusal repudiation temperance
WEAK
disallowance don't off-limits out of bounds
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allowance permission
STRONG
approval
WEAK
clearance
NOUN
proscription
Synonyms
STRONG
ban bar constraint embargo exclusion inhibition injunction interdict interdiction negation obstruction prevention prohibition refusal repudiation restriction taboo temperance veto
WEAK
disallowance don't off-limits
Antonyms
STRONG
OK allowance approval freedom permission ratification sanction
NOUN
restriction
Synonyms
STRONGEST
check condition constraint control curb limit regulation restraint rule stipulation stricture
STRONG
bounds brake catch circumscription confinement containment contraction cramp custody demarcation disability glitch hang-up inhibition limitation limits lock qualification reservation stint string
WEAK
ball and chain excess baggage fine print grain of salt small difficulty stumbling block
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allowance liberation permission
STRONG
advantage freedom help
WEAK
enlargement expansion release
NOUN
swearing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
four-letter word profanity
STRONG
blasphemy cursing cuss cussing execration expletives imprecation malediction swearword
WEAK
bad language dirty language dirty name dirty talk dirty word
NOUN
taboo
Synonyms
STRONGEST
anathema inhibition prohibition stricture superstition
STRONG
ban disapproval forbiddance interdict law limitation proscription regulation reservation restraint restriction sanction
WEAK
don't religious convention social convention thou-shalt-not
Antonyms
STRONG
freedom lawlessness release
WEAK
allowance mentionable

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.

Putting EU money behind nuclear projects was long a no-no, with the 27-nation bloc focusing on renewables in the race to cut planet warming emissions.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

The biggest no-no: Uploading documents with personal information into a publicly available AI tool.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 17, 2026

Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand, a trade deadline acquisition, throw insults in the face-off circle and make not-so-accidental contact with rival goalies—a serious no-no in hockey’s unwritten code.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2025

Guto Harri, a former Downing Street director of communications under Boris Johnson, told BBC Radio 5 Live's Matt Chorley that being paid more than your boss at No 10 was "basically a no-no".

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2024

This is another no-no for the Truman kids.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove