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Glite Dictionary
forbiddingly

forbiddingly

1 8.1
Shows that a place or person is dangerous and not welcoming
  • adverb
  • /fərˈbɪdɪŋli/
translation icon : de manera amenazante
  • Translation from "discourse" into native Russian feels chimerical; translation from Russian into "discourse" is forbiddingly reductive.
  • forbiddingly dark
  • looked forbiddingly

But Even so, redistricting remains a forbiddingly hard problem, right?

Examples

  • "I murmur, and he looks up slowly from the floor, eyes forbiddingly wide, and I think I even see the fabric of his shirt stirring, as if his own frenzied heart were shaking it.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • But Even so, redistricting remains a forbiddingly hard problem, right?

    Stanford

  • It sounds most forbiddingly medical.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • It is forbiddingly technical, and in spite of its direct appeal, it seems to have no namable links to daily life, such as are obvious in the novel and the play.

    Academic text (1996)

  • In pointed contrast to their simple formula and the apparent absence of much to digest, the most prominent and consistent characterization of these "forbiddingly austere" paintings is that of their difficulty.

    Academic text (2014)

  • It is not about things that are so rigidly constricted and so forbiddingly arcane as to exclude all but an audience of like-minded, already fully convinced persons.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The haunted house stood forbiddingly at the end of the street, deterring anyone from approaching.

  • As the storm approached, the sky turned forbiddingly dark, signaling trouble ahead.

  • The forbiddingly tall cliffs loomed over the hikers, making the trail seem treacherous.

Synonyms

menacingly
vsforbiddingly
6 6.3

In a way that seems likely to hurt or scare someone

can also mean unfriendly or offputting rather than openly frightening
threateningly
vsforbiddingly
3 5.5

In a way that shows you might hurt or scare someone

is more about creating unwelcomeness and general threat than immediate harm
balefully
vsforbiddingly
  • Formal
1 8.2

With a look or voice that shows you want to harm someone

focuses more on making people feel unwelcome than on evil intent
hostilely
vsforbiddingly
1 7.4

In an unfriendly way that shows anger or dislike

adds a sense of danger or menace beyond mere unfriendly feeling
bullyingly
vsforbiddingly
  • Offensive
8.5

In a threatening way that tries to control others

is broader, often creating fear without active harassment
inhospitably
vsforbiddingly
7.9

In an unfriendly way that does not welcome visitors

adds an element of danger or threat beyond simple unfriendliness
banefully
vsforbiddingly
  • Formal
9.9

In a way that causes great harm

emphasises feeling unsafe or unwelcome rather than causing large harm
surlily
vsforbiddingly
9.9

In a rude, unfriendly way

creates an intimidating or dangerous feeling rather than mere rudeness

Antonyms

invitingly
1 4.1

Makes people want to come closer

welcomingly
3.6

In a friendly way that makes people feel accepted

How Threatening

terrifyingly
5 6.5
forbiddingly
1 8.1
distantly
9 3.8
neutrally
2 3.6

Surface Forms

forbiddingly positive

Morphology

forbiddingly = forbidding (transparent) = forbid + ing + ly

The adverb is a straightforward adverbial derivative of the adjective 'forbidding' (which itself is a regular -ing adjective of 'forbid'), so the meaning is directly recoverable.

Etymology

Forbiddingly comes from the verb forbid, which means 'to tell someone not to do something' or to give a firm 'no'. The ending -ly turns it into a word that shows how something is done, so to act forbiddingly is to behave in a way that 'says no' or keeps people away.