Words / C1

f-uh-BID-ing/fəˈbɪdɪŋ/

Forbidding means looking unfriendly, stern, or likely to stop you: a forbidding notice, a forbidding cliff. Stern (already in the dictionary) is manner; hostile (already in the dictionary) is opposition; welcoming sits opposite. Forbid (already in the dictionary) is the verb. A blunt sign can still be better than a silent locked exit.

Meaning

Unfriendly or threatening in appearance; looking likely to stop you.

Examples

• “A forbidding notice on the fire door is still better than a locked exit with no notice.”
• “Stern is already in this course. Bleak is atmosphere. A ban is the rule. Tone of the sign is style. A locked fire door is an emergency. Write the notice; unlock the door; then worry about warmth of wording.”

Good to know

Stern / off-putting in look. Verb: forbid (already in the dictionary). Close: stern / hostile (already in the dictionary). A locked exit is worse than a blunt sign.

Near in meaning

stern

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