forbidding
Stern and uninviting
Forbidding describes something that discourages approach or seems hostile and unwelcoming.
A forbidding landscape is harsh and inhospitable.
A forbidding expression warns others to keep their distance.
Forbidding cliffs look dangerous to climb.
The word suggests an implicit threat or stern resistance: The castle's forbidding walls had repelled invaders for centuries.
Discouraging through difficulty
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
- imposingImpressively grand in scale
- austereSeverely simple and unadorned
- unwelcomingHostile to guests
inhospitable · off-putting · unapproachable · inaccessible · stern · severe · grim · cold
Bleak and abandoned
- barrenUnable to produce
- bleakDreary and without cheer
- starkSevere and unadorned
- inhospitableUnwelcoming, harsh to visitors
rugged · harsh · treacherous · craggy · precipitous · windswept · remote · wilderness
Official restriction on something
- prohibitFormally disallow
- outlawFugitive from justice
- proscribeOfficially forbid something
- interdictAuthoritative prohibition order
embargo · veto · disallow · bar · block · restrict · suppress · preclude
Not showing amusement
- dourSternly gloomy
- stonyRocky or emotionless
- severeExtremely harsh or strict
- austereSeverely simple and unadorned
impassive · staid · sober · flinty · frowning · glowering · scowling · steely
Placing restrictions upon
- constrainingImposing limits upon
- repressiveTending to suppress
- inhibitingPreventing or slowing action
- controllingExerting authority over others
confining · narrow · tight · exclusive · selective · conditional · regimented · strict
daunting
Discouraging through difficulty
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
- imposingImpressively grand in scale
- austereSeverely simple and unadorned
unwelcoming · inhospitable · off-putting · unapproachable · inaccessible · stern · severe · grim · cold · bleak
desolate
Bleak and abandoned
inhospitable · rugged · harsh · treacherous · craggy · precipitous · windswept · remote · wilderness · wasteland
ban
Official restriction on something
interdict · embargo · veto · disallow · bar · block · restrict · suppress · preclude · enjoin
unsmiling
Not showing amusement
austere · impassive · staid · sober · flinty · frowning · glowering · scowling · steely · cold-eyed
limiting
Placing restrictions upon
- constrainingImposing limits upon
- repressiveTending to suppress
- inhibitingPreventing or slowing action
controlling · confining · narrow · tight · exclusive · selective · conditional · regimented · strict · regulated
- unfriendlyunfriendly, hostile, cold, cool, distant
- exclusionsexclude, exclusion, excluding, except, exception
- restrainingconstraining, restricting, limiting, confining, curbing
- terrain wordshilly, rocky, muddy, sandy, flat
- opennessopen, openness, transparent, transparency, accessible
- overwhelmingoverwhelming, overpowering, crushing, engulfing, smothering
forbiddinginviting
Attractively appealing
welcoming · approachable · friendly · warm · hospitable
forbiddinginviting
Attractively appealing
attractive · appealing · pleasant · gentle · welcoming
forbiddingallowing
Granting permission to proceed
permitting · permit · allow · authorizing · sanctioning