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

Whether it winds up forbidding mandatory work for prisoners will probably be determined in the courts.

From Los Angeles Times

Komal’s morning view was of jagged, forbidding mountains, the rush of the river dozens of metres below the family home on the cliff.

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

Translated as “Nothing new without the common consent,” the new law redistributed political power by forbidding the king from issuing decrees without first getting parliamentary approval.

From Salon

Related Words

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