forbidding
/fə'bidiɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Appearing unfriendly, threatening, or severe: Describing something that seems stern, uninviting, or likely to cause fear or discomfort.
- Harshly uninviting or formidable in appearance or manner: Describing an atmosphere, place, or person's demeanor that is stern, bleak, or intimidating.
Noun:
- An official order or law that prohibits something: The act of forbidding; a prohibition or ban.
Examples of Usage
Adjective:
- The castle had a dark and forbidding appearance.
- She gave him a forbidding look that stopped his questions immediately.
- The path up the mountain was steep and forbidding.
Noun:
- The forbidding of smoking in public places has improved air quality. (This usage is less common than the adjective form.)
Advanced Usage
"Forbidding aspect/manner": A stern or intimidating appearance or way of behaving.
- Despite his forbidding manner, he was a kind man at heart.
"Forbidding landscape/terrain": Describing land that appears harsh, dangerous, or difficult to traverse.
- The explorers faced the forbidding terrain of the Arctic.
Variants and Related Words
Forbid (verb): To command someone not to do something; to prohibit.
- I forbid you to go there alone.
Forbiddingly (adverb): In a stern, threatening, or uninviting manner.
- The guard stared forbiddingly at the intruders.
Forbiddance (noun): The act of forbidding; prohibition. (Formal/Legal)
- The forbiddance of certain chemicals was enacted by the treaty.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Menacing, grim, stern, ominous, daunting, intimidating, hostile, uninviting.
- Noun: Prohibition, ban, interdiction, embargo, proscription.
Antonyms
- Adjective: Welcoming, inviting, friendly, approachable, pleasant.
- Noun: Permission, allowance, authorization, sanction.
Related Phrases
A forbidding presence: An intimidating or awe-inspiring person or thing.
- The principal was a forbidding presence in the school hallway.
To lift a forbidding: To remove a prohibition. (Formal)
- The government lifted the forbidding on international travel.
Adjective
- threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
- a baleful look
- forbidding thunderclouds
- his tone became menacing
- ominous rumblings of discontent
- sinister storm clouds
- a sinister smile
- his threatening behavior
- ugly black clouds
- the situation became ugly
- harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance
- a dour, self-sacrificing life
- a forbidding scowl
- a grim man loving duty more than humanity
- undoubtedly the grimmest part of him was his iron claw- J.M.Barrie
Noun
- an official prohibition or edict against something