forbidding

[ fer-bid-ing, fawr- ]

adjective

1. grim; unfriendly; hostile; sinister:

   his forbidding countenance.

2. dangerous; threatening:

   forbidding clouds; forbidding cliffs.

forbidding

/ fəˈbɪdɪŋ /

adjective

1. hostile or unfriendly
2. dangerous or ominous

Derived Forms

• forˈbiddingly, adverb
• forˈbiddingness, noun

Other Words From

• for·bidding·ly adverb
• for·bidding·ness noun
• unfor·bidding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of forbidding¹

First recorded in 1710–15; forbid + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Just weeks later — despite a new board policy forbidding him from advocating on immigration issues — Zuckerman railed against the club’s co-directors in an interview with the Los Angeles Times Magazine, saying they can’t “save species and wetlands and so on when there are a billion Americans.”

From Salon

Although America’s CEOs and financiers largely condemned Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot in 2021, they all but made peace with his political return this year—tempering their onetime critiques of the candidate and the GOP, hedging their bets in the lead-up to Election Day, forbidding their media apparatuses from endorsing Kamala Harris, and lining up to kiss the ring soon after Trump’s win became clear.

From Slate

Were he to do it, he would have to wait until February to be eligible to play because of rules forbidding golfers from competing in PGA Tour events within a year of playing unsanctioned tournaments.

From BBC

As a practical matter, by far the most important protections against vengeful prosecutions are career federal prosecutors’ nonpartisan professionalism and the norms forbidding the White House from telling them whom to prosecute.

From Los Angeles Times

It said "despite numerous instructions given forbidding use of cell phones whilst on duty by members of the police service, commanders are not enforcing this".

From BBC

Related Words

• frightening
• grim
• menacing
• off-putting
• sinister
• threatening