censored
Cut for content
Censored describes material that has been examined and had objectionable parts removed or suppressed by an authority.
Government censors may redact documents for national security; platforms censor content that violates policies.
The word often appears in visual form—black bars or [CENSORED] blocks covering text or images: The leaked memo was heavily censored.
To say something was censored implies judgment about what others should see or hear.
Removed objectionable material
- bowdlerizedEdited out indecencies
- sanitizedCleansed of contaminants
- editedAltered for improvement
- deletedPermanently removed
erased · excised · expunged · purged · scrubbed · omitted · blotted · cut
Officially disallowed
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- outlawedForbidden by law
- illegalForbidden by statute
- off-limitsProhibited from access
contraband · illicit · verboten · disallowed · unsanctioned · barred · interdicted · vetoed
Silenced by obstruction
- muzzledPrevented from speaking
- suppressedForcibly held down
- stifledForcibly held in
- hushedReduced to silence
voiceless · quelled · squelched · muted · deplatformed · cancelled · shushed · quieted
Meant to stay secret
- secretConcealed information
- top-secretMaximum security clearance level
- restrictedLimited in scope
- privilegedHaving special advantages
covert · sealed · clearance · redacted · need-to-know · eyes-only · sensitive · intelligence
Screened to remove contaminants
- moderatedRestrained or supervised
- blockedPassage prevented or impeded
- flaggedMarked for attention
- shadowbannedCovertly restricted online
demonetized · NSFW · takedown · blurred · pixelated · beeped
Too shameful to discuss
- unspeakableBeyond verbal expression
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
- indecentOffensive to accepted standards
- improperLacking in propriety
offensive · sensitive · stigmatized · unacceptable · shocking · scandalous · controversial · explicit
expurgated
Removed objectionable material
- bowdlerizedEdited out indecencies
- sanitizedCleansed of contaminants
- editedAltered for improvement
deleted · erased · excised · expunged · purged · scrubbed · omitted · blotted · cut · removed
banned
Officially disallowed
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- outlawedForbidden by law
- illegalForbidden by statute
off-limits · contraband · illicit · verboten · disallowed · unsanctioned · barred · interdicted · vetoed · blacklisted
gagged
Silenced by obstruction
- muzzledPrevented from speaking
- suppressedForcibly held down
- stifledForcibly held in
hushed · voiceless · quelled · squelched · muted · deplatformed · cancelled · shushed · quieted · smothered
confidential
Meant to stay secret
- secretConcealed information
- top-secretMaximum security clearance level
- restrictedLimited in scope
privileged · covert · sealed · clearance · redacted · need-to-know · eyes-only · sensitive · intelligence · dossier
filtered
Screened to remove contaminants
shadowbanned · demonetized · NSFW · takedown · blurred · pixelated · beeped
unmentionable
Too shameful to discuss
- unspeakableBeyond verbal expression
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
- indecentOffensive to accepted standards
improper · offensive · sensitive · stigmatized · unacceptable · shocking · scandalous · controversial · explicit · obscene
- redactedredacted, blacked out, expunged, deleted, erased
- silencequiet, silent, mute, hush, stillness
- controlledcontrolled, managed, regulated, restrained, contained
- restrainedrestrained, reserved, subdued, controlled, muted
- Bowdlerizedredacted, sanitized, expurgated, cleaned, softened
- censorshipbanned books, banned, book banning, book bans, book burning
censoreduncensored
Without removed content
allowed · approved · permitted · unrestricted · authorized
censoredunexpurgated
Not cleansed of objectionable content
uncut · unredacted · complete · unabridged · unedited
- political censorshipGovernment restricting public expression
- government censorshipOfficial restriction of expression
- news censorshipRestricting published information
- book censorshipRestricting access to texts
- state censorshipGovernment restricting public expression
- Internet censorshipSuppressing online information access
censor, censorship, uncensored, censors, censoring, anticensorship, censorable