bans 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of ban
1
as in prohibits
to order not to do or use or to be done or used the company absolutely bans smoking within its buildings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excludes
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of the university banned those caught in the cheating scandal from graduation ceremonies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bans

2 of 2

noun

plural of ban
1
as in curses
a prayer that harm will come to someone a father's ban upon his ungrateful son

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in prohibitions
an order that something not be done or used a quiet seaside resort with a ban on the drinking of alcohol in public places

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 bans
Verb
State law now bans proposition betting in sports — wagers on certain events happening in a game, rather than the game’s outcome — which is a significant source of revenue for the leading prediction markets. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 The law also bans the sale of e-bikes that can travel faster than 25 mph, or have motors that produce more than 750 watts of power. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026 The law bans the use of license plate readers for, among other things, immigration enforcement and for prosecuting someone who seeks reproductive or gender-affirming services in the state. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026 The social media bans land at an already fragile moment for Snapchat. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 30 July 2026 Viking bans passengers under 18 across its river, ocean, and expedition fleets. — Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Since then, hundreds of Italian descendants have lost their legal battles challenging the new law, which bans dual citizens abroad from passing down their nationality and enforces the two-generation cap. — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 25 July 2026 Since the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, MLB strictly bans using personal electronics to record coaches or decode signals. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026 No state outright bans nursing homes and assisted living facilities from serving alcohol. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 20 July 2026
Noun
But there are no caps or bans on electricity rate increases, Florida State University professor Mark McNees told PolitiFact. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026 Towns and cities are enacting bans on construction seemingly by the day, including in nearby areas in Washington, out of fears of higher electricity bills, pollution and AI taking their jobs. — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026 In states that later enacted bans, contacts were increasing even faster still. — Jennifer Karlin, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026 There are currently burn bans in place in several Arkansas counties as much of the state is at moderate risk of wildfire danger. — Arkansas Online, 11 Aug. 2026 Back in March of 2025, most Canadian provinces banned the sale of American booze, and to date only Alberta and Saskatchewan have lifted their bans. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2026 Drone pros and content creators still aren't feeling the full impact, but that will change quickly if retroactive bans broaden. — Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026 After that shooting, Anutin, who at the time was interior minister, ordered a raft of gun control measures, including a short-term ban on new licenses, import restrictions, and bans on people under 20 years from shooting ranges. — Chalinee Thirasupa, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 Most of the negligence cases involved farm work carried out despite local bans, including welding. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bans
  1. prohibits
  2. excludes
  3. curses
  4. prohibitions
  5. forbids
  6. bars
  7. outlaws
  8. prevents
Verb
  • The new law prohibits drugmakers from restricting the number or types of pharmacies that hospitals and other providers can contract with to dispense medications to their patients through a federal program called the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
    — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Lemon and several other journalists have been charged with violating the FACE Act, which prohibits people from intimidating or interfering with individuals’ constitutional right to the freedom of religion.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of prohibits
Verb
  • What’s more, the new White House framework excludes the Chinese open models entirely, leaving a fast-growing slice of the market unmonitored.
    — Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Every unnecessary requirement you list is a filter that excludes someone who could do the job well.
    — Marsha Murray, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of excludes
Noun
  • The cumulative impression of Alice that the book leaves is of someone moving serenely through life, meeting fond blessings and awful curses both with the same calm equanimity.
    — Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The woods could be hiding places of witches and sorcerers, disguised as the old and feeble, but capable of summoning wonder and terrors, charms as well as curses.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
Definition of curses
Noun
  • Suno has also strengthened prohibitions against this kind of misuse in an update to its usage policy.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Of those 125 prohibitions, officials now say 46 have disappeared entirely, and 35 have had their operating conditions relaxed.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of prohibitions
Verb
  • About to turn 50, with a body falling apart and the feeling that his life is a fraud, his doctor forbids him from lifting more than three kilos due to a hernia.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The department has long had a policy that forbids retaliation against officers who report misconduct.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of forbids
Verb
  • The law bars force, threats, or physical obstruction intended to interfere with the exercise of religious freedom at a place of worship.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Thursday’s party-line vote repealed the national broadcast ownership rule, which bars a single company from reaching more than 39% of US TV households over the public airwaves.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of bars
Verb
  • The Invasive Species Management Act outlaws the sale and spread of 30 species, like the Bradford (or Callery) pear, Japanese barberry and running bamboo, throughout the Garden State.
    — Nick Caloway, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
  • Even if the Supreme Court soon outlaws the use of race in shaping congressional districts, state lawmakers still have to work within Florida’s Fair Districts amendment.
    — Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
Definition of outlaws
Verb
  • The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act prevents regulated entities, such as hospitals, from disclosing identifiable private information to third parties under most circumstances, unless the patient agrees.
    — Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Strategic stillness strengthens emotional intelligence, reduces fatigue, and prevents burnout.
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of prevents

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Cite this Entry

“Bans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bans. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bans for Spanish Speakers

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