Forbidden
adjective /fəˈbɪd.ən/ — Not permitted, and therefore more compelling.
Definition
Not allowed; prohibited — and in a seductive context, more powerful for it. The forbidden is a fundamental driver of desire: what is withheld often becomes more wanted than what is available.
Beyond the definition
The forbidden is desire's intensifier — the added charge that comes from the 'you shouldn't'. There is something in human psychology that responds to prohibition with increased interest, as though being told 'no' is itself a kind of invitation.
Origin & history
Past participle of 'forbid'; from Old English 'forbeodan' (to prohibit, to forbid). The command against.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Forbidden fruit tastes sweeter — not because the fruit is better, but because the prohibition adds flavor to the eating.
She had told herself it was forbidden; the word made it more present in her mind, not less.
Every culture draws its forbidden lines differently — what is transgressive in one is ordinary in another.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Forbidden” when the meaning fits your context: Not allowed; prohibited — and in a seductive context, more powerful for it. The forbidden is a fundamental driver of desire: what is withheld often becomes more wanted than what is available.
Synonyms
prohibited, taboo, off-limits, proscribed
Antonyms
permitted, allowed, available, open
Related words
Forbidden vs prohibited
Forbidden often implies a moral or social taboo imposed by an authority. Prohibited typically refers to a clear, formal rule or legal restriction.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Prohibited and Charged Meeting
An adult stands in the shadowed corner of a moonlit garden, waiting in secret.
The fact that the meeting must be secret implies that it is forbidden. This prohibition increases the intensity of the desire, making the act of meeting all the more powerful because it is withheld from view.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Forbidden" mean?
Forbidden is adjective meaning: Not permitted, and therefore more compelling.. Not allowed; prohibited — and in a seductive context, more powerful for it. The forbidden is a fundamental driver of desire: what is withheld often becomes more wanted than what is available.
Where does the word "Forbidden" come from?
Past participle of 'forbid'; from Old English 'forbeodan' (to prohibit, to forbid). The command against.