proscribed
Declared off limits
Proscribed means forbidden or banned, typically by official decree or authority.
A proscribed organization is outlawed.
Proscribed conduct violates established rules.
The word carries a formal, legalistic tone: The treaty proscribed the use of chemical weapons.
Not to be confused with prescribed, which means required or recommended.
Officially not permitted
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- forbiddenNot allowed
- illegalForbidden by statute
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
illicit · contraband · interdicted · verboten · impermissible · disallowed · unauthorized · unsanctioned
Persistently avoided socially
- ostracizedExcluded from a group
- expelledOfficially removed or banished
- excludedShut out, denied entry
- exiledForced from one's country
banished · outcast · pariah · blackballed · rejected · excommunicated · debarred · marginalized
Cultural or social prohibition
- stigmatizedMarked with social shame
- shamefulCausing or meriting disgrace
- unmentionableToo shameful to discuss
- unspeakableBeyond verbal expression
scandalous · improper · indecent · unseemly · inappropriate · condemned · denounced · anathematized
Medically inadvisable due to risk
- inadvisableNot worth doing
- cautionedGave a warning
- restrictedLimited in scope
- discouragedHaving lost confidence or enthusiasm
harmful · dangerous · incompatible · avoided · unapproved · unlicensed · off-label
prohibited
Officially not permitted
unlawful · illicit · contraband · interdicted · verboten · impermissible · disallowed · unauthorized · unsanctioned · barred
shunned
Persistently avoided socially
- ostracizedExcluded from a group
- expelledOfficially removed or banished
- excludedShut out, denied entry
exiled · banished · outcast · pariah · blackballed · rejected · excommunicated · debarred · marginalized · disowned
taboo
Cultural or social prohibition
- stigmatizedMarked with social shame
- shamefulCausing or meriting disgrace
- unmentionableToo shameful to discuss
unspeakable · scandalous · improper · indecent · unseemly · inappropriate · condemned · denounced · anathematized · repudiated
contraindicated
Medically inadvisable due to risk
- inadvisableNot worth doing
- cautionedGave a warning
- restrictedLimited in scope
discouraged · harmful · dangerous · incompatible · avoided · unapproved · unlicensed · off-label
- Forbiddenforbidden, prohibited, banned, not allowed, off-limits
- normsnorm, norms, standard, social norms, rule
- outcastsoutcast, pariah, pariahs, outcasts, outlaws
- usage labelsformal, informal, archaic, obsolete, colloquial
proscribedpermitted
Granted leave to proceed
allowed · authorized · permissible · sanctioned · legal
proscribedacceptable
Meeting minimum standards
accepted · approved · embraced · welcomed · encouraged
proscribedprescribed
Officially recommended or mandated
mandated · required · recommended · encouraged · endorsed