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to proscribe

to proscribe

8 8.6
To forbid something by law or official rule
  • verb
  • /prəˈskraɪb/
  • Formal
translation icon : proscribir
  • Catholics found themselves hounded and proscribed because of their faith.
  • law that proscribes
  • proscribed conduct
  • proscribed action

Next, he targeted the triumphias, condemning their tyrannical actions in Rome, calling them leaders of evil men who proscribe their own brothers, uncles and guardians first.

Examples

  • All banks of issue and deposit were established at the state level, and interstate banking was proscribed.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Section 377 of Singapore's penal code proscribes life imprisonment for "carnal intercourse against the order of nature."

    Academic text (1997)
  • Specifically, moral rules apply only to the most obvious kinds of proscribed behavior.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Israel forced Egypt, Syria, and Jordan to proscribe direct cross-border terrorist attacks.

    Academic text (1990)
  • 22 Substantively, the Act proscribes the taking of endangered species or the destruction of those species' habitat.

    Academic text (1991)
  • The new law will proscribe the sale of certain chemicals to protect the environment.

  • The government decided to proscribe all forms of gambling in the city.

  • In an effort to improve public safety, the regulations proscribe the use of fireworks during dry seasons.

Synonyms

to prohibit
vsto proscribe
299 3.3

To officially say that something is not allowed by law

is the more formal legal term used by authorities to bar actions
to forbid
vsto proscribe
211 3.0

Order someone not to do something

is centered on official legal prohibition by authorities rather than personal orders
to outlaw
vsto proscribe
114 4.4

To make something illegal

is a more general term for ending actions via law or authority
to preclude
vsto proscribe
55 7.2

To stop something from happening or make it impossible

involves formal authority stopping actions rather than mere prevention
to disallow
vsto proscribe
  • Formal
16 3.9

To refuse to allow something, usually by an official rule

is focused more on legal stopping by formal authority rather than refusal
to nix
vsto proscribe
  • Informal
15 8.0

To say no to an idea or plan

is the formal legal stopping used by officials rather than casual rejection
to interdict
vsto proscribe
  • Formal
4 9.4

To stop someone or something by an official order

is broader, covering legal bans beyond single orders
to illegalize
vsto proscribe
  • US
1 6.7

To make something against the law

is used more for formal banning by authorities rather than rule change

Antonyms

1.0

To let something happen or let someone do something

531 1.5

To allow someone to do something

How Forbidden

to outlaw
114 4.4
to proscribe
  • Formal
8 8.6
to prohibit
299 3.3
ban
293 1.2
to forbid
211 3.0
to bar
31 3.3
to disallow
  • Formal
16 3.9

Surface Forms

proscribe infinitive
proscribing present participle
proscribes third person singular
proscribed past
proscribed past participle

Etymology

The word proscribe comes from Latin parts pro- 'forth' and scribere 'to write', and is from the same root as scribe and script. Long ago it meant putting someone's name on a public list to ban or punish them, so today to proscribe means to 'forbid' or 'prohibit' something by law or rule.