oughtn't
Better not to
Oughtn't is a contraction of "ought not," expressing that something is inadvisable or morally wrong: You oughtn't to speak to your mother that way.
The form is more common in British than American English, where "shouldn't" typically fills the same role.
Like ought itself, oughtn't sounds somewhat formal or old-fashioned in casual speech.
Advised against doing
- mustn'tExpressing prohibition or forbiddance
- dutyRequired moral task
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- moralConcerning right conduct
should · must · imperative · expectation · propriety · decorum · etiquette · correctness
Not allowed
- discouragedHaving lost confidence or enthusiasm
- inadvisableNot worth doing
- warnedGave advance notice
- cautionedGave a warning
dissuaded · deterred · improper · inappropriate · unwise · ill-advised · imprudent · reckless
Of the United Kingdom
- formalFollowing strict protocol
- contractionReduction in size
- archaicBelonging to earlier times
- old-fashionedBelonging to earlier times
proper · traditional · Victorian · Edwardian · dated · literary · refined · genteel
shouldn't
Advised against doing
- mustn'tExpressing prohibition or forbiddance
- dutyRequired moral task
- responsibilityState of being answerable
moral · should · must · imperative · expectation · propriety · decorum · etiquette · correctness · standards
forbidden
Not allowed
- discouragedHaving lost confidence or enthusiasm
- inadvisableNot worth doing
- warnedGave advance notice
cautioned · dissuaded · deterred · improper · inappropriate · unwise · ill-advised · imprudent · reckless · taboo
British
Of the United Kingdom
- formalFollowing strict protocol
- contractionReduction in size
- archaicBelonging to earlier times
old-fashioned · proper · traditional · Victorian · Edwardian · dated · literary · refined · genteel · quaint