Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Discouraging or preventing something from happening or being used: "Prohibitive" describes something, especially a cost or price, that is so high it prevents most people from being able to afford or do something.
   • Functioning as a prohibition: In a broader sense, it can describe anything that serves to forbid or restrict an action.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The cost of housing in the city center is prohibitive for young families. (The price is so high it prevents them from buying.)
  • The prohibitive price of the concert tickets meant we couldn't go.
  • The company faced prohibitive regulations that stopped the project from proceeding. (The regulations acted as a barrier.)

Advanced Usage

• "Prohibitive favorite" (in sports/competitions): A competitor or team so strongly favored to win that betting against them is seen as pointless or "prohibited" by the odds.
  • The champion was a prohibitive favorite to win the race again.

Variants and Related Words

• Prohibit (verb): To formally forbid something by law, rule, or other authority.
  • The sign prohibits parking here.
• Prohibition (noun): The act of forbidding something, or a law or rule that does so.
  • The prohibition of smoking in public places.
• Prohibitively (adverb): In a way that prevents something.
  • The land was prohibitively expensive.

Synonyms

• Exorbitant: (of a price or amount) unreasonably high.
• Extortionate: (of a price) grossly excessive.
• Restrictive: limiting freedom of action.
• Preclusive: serving to prevent something.

Antonyms

• Affordable: inexpensive; reasonably priced.
• Moderate: average in amount, intensity, or degree.
• Permissive: allowing or characterized by great freedom of behavior.

Related Phrases

• Cost-prohibitive: A common phrase emphasizing that the expense is the primary barrier.
  • The renovation was cost-prohibitive, so we abandoned the plan.

Adjective

1. tending to discourage (especially of prices)
   • the price was prohibitive