proscribes
Declares off limits
Proscribes means to forbid or prohibit, especially by official decree or law: The constitution proscribes cruel and unusual punishment.
The word carries a formal, legalistic tone—governments proscribe terrorist organizations, regulations proscribe certain practices.
Not to be confused with prescribes, which means to recommend or order.
Expresses severe disapproval
- denouncesPublicly criticizes harshly
- excommunicatesFormally bars from church
- damnsCondemns to perdition
- censuresFormally expresses strong disapproval
taboos · heresy · blasphemy · sin · forbidden · sacrilege · impure · unclean
Legally bars action
- bansOfficial restrictions imposed
- forbidsOfficially disallows something
- outlawsFugitives from justice
- criminalizesDeclares legally forbidden
interdicts · bars · disallows · enjoins · vetoes · sanctions · embargoes · restricts
Expels from social group
- excludesDeliberately leaves out
- shunsDeliberately avoids contact
- banishesExpels from a place
- exilesBanished persons
blacklists · boycotts · stigmatizes · marginalizes · rejects · outcasts · pariahs · taboo
condemns
Expresses severe disapproval
- denouncesPublicly criticizes harshly
- excommunicatesFormally bars from church
- damnsCondemns to perdition
censures · taboos · heresy · blasphemy · sin · forbidden · sacrilege · impure · unclean · haram
prohibits
Legally bars action
criminalizes · interdicts · bars · disallows · enjoins · vetoes · sanctions · embargoes · restricts · censors
ostracizes
Expels from social group
exiles · blacklists · boycotts · stigmatizes · marginalizes · rejects · outcasts · pariahs · taboo · unacceptable
contraindicates
Makes inadvisable medically
prohibits · avoids · dangerous · harmful · unsafe · interactions · side effects · allergies · protocols · guidelines
proscribespermits
Grants formal authorization
allows · authorizes · sanctions · enables · licenses
proscribesprescribes
Formally orders or recommends
endorses · recommends · advocates · promotes · encourages