prohibitive

adjective

pro·​hib·​i·​tive prō-ˈhi-bə-tiv How to pronounce prohibitive (audio)
prə-
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 But given the five- or six-figure upsell associated with paint-to-sample colors on luxury vehicles from automakers such as BMW, Rolls-Royce, Maybach, or Bugatti, the price may not be prohibitive. Brett Berk, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024 The caucuses require a candidate to intensely organize supporters around the state in order to be competitive, a feat that Trump, the former president and prohibitive front-runner, was easily positioned to do. Michelle L. Price, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2024 But this couple had moved from the Norfolk area where the cost of farmland had become prohibitive due to uncontrolled suburban sprawl. TIME, 6 Feb. 2024 And San Francisco’s prohibitive housing prices have dropped over the last year, a trend that is expected to continue in 2024. Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2024 The way Baltimore steamrolled Miami one week after blowing out the 49ers makes the Ravens the prohibitive favorites in the conference and the team to beat in the Super Bowl, regardless of what the oddsmakers say. Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 1 Jan. 2024 Brawley is the prohibitive favorite with 11 of their 14 entrees seeded in the top four. San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2024 Former President Donald Trump has been the prohibitive front-runner, with a neck-and-neck race for second place between Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley. WSJ, 15 Jan. 2024 Additionally, the cost of producing cultured cells for transplantation can be prohibitive. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prohibitive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near prohibitive

Cite this Entry

“Prohibitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prohibitive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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