Forbidding Meaning in English
word · lemma: forbid
fɝˈbɪdɪŋ/, /fɔˈbɪdɪŋ
fer-BID-ing or faw-BID-ing
fəbˈɪdɪŋ
fuh-BID-ing
Definition
Looking unfriendly or threatening, often making people feel scared or not welcome. Can also mean very difficult or off-putting.
Usage & Nuances
Often used for places, faces, mountains, or weather to mean 'intimidating' or 'unwelcoming.' In formal or descriptive writing. Not the same as 'forbidden' (not allowed). Adjective only, not to be used as a verb.
Spanish: amenazador - intimidantePortuguese (BR): ameaçador - intimidadorPortuguese (PT): ameaçador - intimidanteChinese (Simplified): 令人生畏的 - 难以接近的Chinese (Traditional): 令人生畏的 - 難以親近的Hindi: डरावना - आकर्षणहीनArabic: مخيف - مُهيبBengali: ভয়ানক - কঠোর - শীতল (ব্যবহারিক)Russian: угрожающий - неприветливый - суровыйJapanese: 険しい - 威圧的な - 近寄りがたいVietnamese: đáng sợ - dữ tợn - khó gầnKorean: 험악한 - 위압적인 - 냉랭한Turkish: ürkütücü - soğuk (tavır) - gözdağı verenUrdu: خوفناک - سنجیدہ - سختIndonesian: menakutkan - suram - dingin (sikap)
Example Sentences
The castle looked forbidding in the dark.
basic
She has a forbidding expression on her face.
basic
The mountain trail seemed forbidding to new hikers.
basic
Her forbidding glare kept everyone silent at the meeting.
natural
The weather turned forbidding, so we decided to stay inside.
natural
Don't let the forbidding look of the book scare you—it’s actually very interesting.
natural