forbidding

Examples

• All

• This book tells a harsh and forbidding story and makes one wonder just exactly what its relation to truth is.

• And here let me just warn you that the IPA becomes particularly forbidding when we get to vowels in English.

• Because the climate crisis can be a forbidding topic.

• But now the ethical substance has turned dark and forbidding and mean and unfair, right?

• ROBOTS IN FORBIDDING PLACES

  Academic text (2001)

• The mountains looked forbidding under the dark storm clouds, making us hesitant to go hiking.

• She gave him a forbidding glare when he proposed the risky plan, making it clear she disapproved.

Synonyms

T

threatening

vsforbidding

140 3.6

Showing that something bad or dangerous may happen

is about looking unfriendly or menacing enough to keep people away

I

intimidating

vsforbidding

102 5.3

Making someone feel afraid, nervous, or less confident

is more about an unfriendly look that makes people avoid it

S

sinister

vsforbidding

90 6.1

Giving a feeling that something bad will happen

is concentrated on an unfriendly look that makes people wary

O

ominous

vsforbidding

74 6.4

Makes you feel that something bad will happen

is focused on appearance that makes people feel threatened or wary

U

unwelcome

vsforbidding

43 4.3

Not wanted and causing upset or trouble

is more about an off-putting, possibly threatening appearance

M

menacing

vsforbidding

41 5.0

Giving the feeling that something dangerous may happen

focuses more on an unfriendly appearance that creates avoidance

D

discouraging

vsforbidding

29 3.9

Causing someone to feel less confident or hopeful about trying something

is about looking hostile or frightening rather than lowering confidence

G

grim

vsforbidding

28 4.2

Serious and unfriendly so people feel afraid to approach

is about overall unfriendly or threatening appearance that deters approach

D

dour

vsforbidding

14 7.6

Serious and unfriendly in a way that looks gloomy

carries more sense of threat or danger that keeps people away

A

alienating

vsforbidding

6 7.3

Causing someone to feel alone and not part of a group

is about appearing threatening or unfriendly enough to deter approach

B

baleful

vsforbidding

• Formal

4 8.4

Looking or sounding dangerous and making you feel afraid

is more general, covering unfriendly or intimidating appearance

I

inimical

vsforbidding

• Formal

3 8.9

Unfriendly and likely to harm someone or something

emphasizes an unfriendly or threatening appearance that deters approach

U

unwelcoming

vsforbidding

3 4.5

Not friendly and making people feel unwanted or uncomfortable

adds a stronger sense of danger that actively deters approach

D

dissuasive

vsforbidding

• Formal

1 8.7

Making someone less likely to do something by showing bad results

is about appearing threatening or unfriendly and causing avoidance

M

minatory

vsforbidding

• Formal

1 9.9

That makes people feel afraid

is broader, describing an unfriendly look that deters approach

M

minacious

vsforbidding

• Formal

9.9

A voice or look that makes you feel someone will cause harm

is less about explicit threat and more about an off-putting look

Antonyms

W

welcoming

79 1.0

A friendly way of acting that makes people feel comfortable

I

inviting

38 2.3

Having a warm, pleasant appearance that makes people want to come closer

How Threatening

terrifying

243 5.3

menacing

41 5.0

forbidding

9 6.6

off-putting

19 6.1

distant

86 4.9

neutral

198 3.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology