prohibitive

adjective

pro·​hib·​i·​tive prō-ˈhi-bə-tiv How to pronounce prohibitive (audio)
prə-
Synonyms of prohibitivenext
1
: tending to prohibit or restrain
2
: tending to preclude use or purchase
prohibitive costs
3
: almost certain to perform as predicted
a prohibitive favorite
prohibitively adverb
prohibitiveness noun

Examples of prohibitive in a Sentence

the prohibitive cost of rent
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This is additive to an IT operating model, meaning there will be more future technology development as projects, which in the past would have been considered cost-prohibitive, become economically feasible. — Rex Lee, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 After all, no company wants to buy the first few that are economically prohibitive, so the Army is jumping in financially and then helping the economies of scale take over. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026 Leaving Taiz is not an option for al-Shahid because the costs of travel and renting a home in another province are prohibitive. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 The costs of bringing their collections to Paris is increasingly prohibitive for smaller brands, but showing at home is not enough. — Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prohibitive

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prohibitive was in the 15th century

Rhymes for prohibitive

See All Rhymes for prohibitive

Browse Nearby Words

prohibitionist
prohibitive
prohibitive impediment
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prohibitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prohibitive. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

prohibitive

adjective
pro·​hib·​i·​tive prō-ˈhib-ət-iv How to pronounce prohibitive (audio)
: likely to discourage use or purchase
prohibitive prices
prohibitively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on prohibitive

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