INTERDICT Synonyms: 156 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'interdict' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of interdict are forbid , inhibit , and prohibit . While all these words mean "to debar one from doing something or to order that something not be done," interdict implies prohibition by civil or ecclesiastical authority usually for a given time or a declared purpose. // practices interdicted by the church

Q: When is 'forbid' a more appropriate choice than 'interdict'?

While in some cases nearly identical to interdict , forbid implies that the order is from one in authority and that obedience is expected. // smoking is forbidden in the building

Q: When is it sensible to use 'inhibit' instead of 'interdict'?

Although the words inhibit and interdict have much in common, inhibit implies restraints or restrictions that amount to prohibitions, not only by authority but also by the exigencies of the time or situation. // conditions inhibiting the growth of free trade

Q: In what contexts can 'prohibit' take the place of 'interdict'?

In some situations, the words prohibit and interdict are roughly equivalent. However, prohibit suggests the issuing of laws, statutes, or regulations. // prohibited the sale of liquor

interdict 1 of 2

noun

ˈin-tər-ˌdikt

Definition of interdict next

as in prohibition

an order that something not be done or used the church's controversial interdict against the use of birth control devices

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

interdict

2 of 2

verb

ˌin-tər-ˈdikt

as in to prohibit

to order not to do or use or to be done or used the state legislature moved to interdict the use of radar-detection devices by motorists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to intercept

to stop, seize, or interrupt while in progress or on course federal agents are able to interdict only a small percentage of the narcotic shipments into the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb interdict differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of interdict are forbid, inhibit, and prohibit. While all these words mean "to debar one from doing something or to order that something not be done," interdict implies prohibition by civil or ecclesiastical authority usually for a given time or a declared purpose.

practices interdicted by the church

When is forbid a more appropriate choice than interdict?

While in some cases nearly identical to interdict, forbid implies that the order is from one in authority and that obedience is expected.

smoking is forbidden in the building

When is it sensible to use inhibit instead of interdict?

Although the words inhibit and interdict have much in common, inhibit implies restraints or restrictions that amount to prohibitions, not only by authority but also by the exigencies of the time or situation.

conditions inhibiting the growth of free trade

In what contexts can prohibit take the place of interdict?

In some situations, the words prohibit and interdict are roughly equivalent. However, prohibit suggests the issuing of laws, statutes, or regulations.

prohibited the sale of liquor

Examples Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of interdict

Noun

Saudi Arabia and the UAE interdict millions of pills each year. —

Vanda Felbab-Brown, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2024 While the effort to interdict migrants, including traffickers in fentanyl, continues, another topic Texas is only slowly beginning to discuss is how to make more widely available some potentially life-saving devices – fentanyl test strips. —

Dallas News, 28 Apr. 2022

Verb

Last year, the Turks and Caicos reported interdicting 4,016 migrants at sea. —

Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 July 2024 Data from Mexico’s National Institute of Migration shows how critical Mexico’s enforcement role has been in blocking, interdicting and, in some cases, deporting U.S.-bound migrants. —

Didi Martinez, NBC News, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for interdict

Recent Examples of Synonyms for interdict

Noun

For example, Goldwater Institute's claim that the increase in the bed tax constitutes an unconstitutional tax on a service misconstrues the Arizona Constitution's prohibition on tax increases for services.

Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
The current version of the policy maintains prohibitions on Holocaust denials, Blackface, insinuations about Jewish people controlling the media.

Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 7 Jan. 2025