Forbidding and Hostile

Forbidding

Forbidding adjective - Harsh and threatening in manner or appearance.
Usage example: told us in a forbidding voice to stop calling him by that name

Hostile is a synonym for forbidding in ominous topic. In some cases you can use "Hostile" instead an adjective "Forbidding", when it comes to topics like threatening.

Hostile

Hostile adjective - Marked by opposition or ill will.

Forbidding is a synonym for hostile in unfavourable topic. You can use "Forbidding" instead an adjective "Hostile".

Nearby Word: hostility
Cite this Source
Hostile and Forbidding. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/forbidding/hostile
Forbidding & Hostile. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/forbidding/hostile>.
Hostile or Forbidding. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/forbidding/hostile.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "forbidding" and "hostile" have occurred on timeline