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Master confusing words with ease

Forbid vs. Prohibit

Forbid

/fəˈbɪd/

To formally or legally not allow something

Examples:

My parents forbid me to stay out late.We must forbid smoking in public places.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Prohibit

/prəˈhɪbət/

To officially stop something from being done or used, especially by law or regulation.

Examples:

Smoking is prohibited inside the building.Laws prohibit drinking alcohol in public places.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

Both prohibit and forbid involve disallowing actions, but prohibit often implies stronger legal or formal authority.
Prohibit is more commonly used in formal or legal contexts, such as laws and regulations.
Use forbid in everyday situations where someone is being prevented from doing something, often by another person's authority.
Prohibit is typically associated with rules, laws, and formal restrictions compared to forbid.
Remember that prohibitions are often written down and enforced by organizations or governments, while forbidding can be a personal or individual action.

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