proscribe

/proʊˈskraɪb/

Other forms: proscribed; proscribing; proscribes

To proscribe something is to forbid or prohibit it, as a school principal might proscribe the use of cell phones in class.

Proscribe sounds similar to the word prescribe, but be careful: these words are essentially opposite in meaning. While proscribe means forbid, prescribe is used when a doctor recommends a medicine or remedy. Of course, if you want an excuse for not following your doctor’s orders, you could say you were confused about the meaning of these two words — but that would be lying, which is proscribed by most people’s value systems. And it would also be bad for your health.

Definitions of proscribe

1. verb

   command against
   synonyms: disallow, forbid, interdict, nix, prohibit, veto

   types:

   ban

   prohibit especially by legal means or social pressure

   bar, debar, exclude

   prevent from entering; keep out

   enjoin

   issue an injunction

   criminalise, criminalize, illegalise, illegalize, outlaw

   declare illegal; outlaw

   ban, censor

   forbid the public distribution of ( a movie or a newspaper)

   type of:

   command, require

   make someone do something