interdict 1 of 2

interdict

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Example 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
There are no restraining orders, injunctions or interdicts anywhere. Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 9 May 2024 Environmental and community groups in South Africa's Eastern Cape province won an urgent interdict to stop the surveys in December last year and are now asking the court to permanently halt the operations. Mogomotsi Magome, ajc, 2 June 2022
Verb
The senators noted the U.S. government has never before sent anyone directly from within the country’s borders to be detained at Guantánamo, though the naval facilities were temporarily used more than 30 years ago to house migrants from Haiti and Cuba interdicted at sea. Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 24 Feb. 2025 In February, Border Patrol nationwide seized 45 pounds of heroin, the most interdicted in a month since May 2022. Anna Giaritelli, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for interdict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for interdict
Noun
  • The city has argued in court that the state prohibition on voter ID requirements doesn’t explicitly apply to city elections that aren’t consolidated with statewide elections.
    Michael Slaten, Oc Register, 29 May 2025
  • Texas, one of eight no-income-tax states, already has a constitutional prohibition on taxing wages.
    Patrick Gleason, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • The order explicitly prohibits the sale of any bitcoin from the reserve, cementing its role as a permanent sovereign asset.
    MacKenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 31 May 2025
  • In other words, non-citizens—documented or undocumented—are prohibited from performing duties related to vote tallying or supervising recounts.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • The government can also intercept up to 100% of a federal tax refund, and offset up to 15% of Social Security benefits, although Social Security offset is now temporarily paused following this week’s announcement.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • In a statement to Tass, the ministry said some drones were intercepted and added that several perpetrators had been detained.
    Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
Noun
  • Legal fights ahead In the courts, Trump faced a temporary setback last week after a federal judge paused his ban on Harvard’s student visas, with a preliminary hearing set for Thursday to decide on an extension.
    David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 29 May 2025
  • The final batch released before the ban period indicates that though Lee Jae-myung maintains a lead, his support has stagnated in the high 40s.
    Jong Eun Lee, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • The ban was introduced in 2024, when cities were forbidden from lighting up their bridges with rainbows for Pride, red for Sickle Cell Awareness, and/or orange for gun safety awareness.
    Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
  • Even during the days of Concorde, the supersonic plane that retired in 2003, commercial flying at speeds above Mach 1 over mainland US was strictly forbidden, largely due to concerns over noise pollution from sonic booms.
    Edward Russell, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • The following year, after California briefly outlawed the death penalty, their sentences were commuted to life with the possibility of parole.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 2 June 2025
  • The Israeli government declared Kach to be a terrorist organization, effectively outlawing it.
    Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Interdict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/interdict. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on interdict

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!