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taboo

ta·boo
T t

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [tuh-boo, ta-]
    • /təˈbu, tæ-/
    • /təˈbuː/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [tuh-boo, ta-]
    • /təˈbu, tæ-/

Definitions of taboo word

  • adjective taboo proscribed by society as improper or unacceptable: Taboo language is usually bleeped on TV. Synonyms: prohibited, banned, forbidden, proscribed. Antonyms: allowed, permitted, permissible; sanctioned. 1
  • adjective taboo prohibited or excluded from use or practice: In art school, painting from photographs was taboo. 1
  • adjective taboo (among the Polynesians and other peoples of the South Pacific) separated or set apart as sacred; forbidden for general use; placed under a prohibition or ban. Synonyms: sacrosanct, inviolable. 1
  • noun plural taboo a prohibition or interdiction of anything; exclusion from use or practice: One of the strongest taboos in all modern societies is against incest. Synonyms: ban, proscription, embargo, interdiction; no-no. 1
  • noun plural taboo the system, practice, or act whereby things are set apart as sacred, forbidden for general use, or placed under a prohibition or interdiction. the condition of being so set apart, forbidden, or interdicted. 1
  • noun plural taboo exclusion from social relations; ostracism. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of taboo

First appearance:

before 1770
One of the 46% newest English words
1770-80; < Tongan tapu or Fijian tabu ‘forbidden, prohibited’

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Taboo

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

taboo popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 93% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

taboo usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for taboo

noun taboo

  • anathema — If something is anathema to you, you strongly dislike it.
  • bewitchment — the state of being bewitched
  • conjuration — a magic spell; incantation
  • diabolism — activities designed to enlist the aid of devils, esp in witchcraft or sorcery
  • disallowance — to refuse to allow; reject; veto: to disallow a claim for compensation.

adj taboo

  • banned — to prohibit, forbid, or bar; interdict: to ban nuclear weapons; The dictator banned all newspapers and books that criticized his regime.
  • black-market — to black-marketeer.
  • bootlegged — made, sold, or transported unlawfully.
  • contraband — Contraband refers to goods that are taken into or out of a country illegally.
  • forbidden — a past participle of forbid.

verb taboo

  • bitted — Also called bollard. a strong post of wood or iron projecting, usually in pairs, above the deck of a ship, used for securing cables, lines for towing, etc.
  • bitting — Also called bollard. a strong post of wood or iron projecting, usually in pairs, above the deck of a ship, used for securing cables, lines for towing, etc.
  • boxed in — simple past tense and past participle of box in.
  • call on — If you call on someone to do something or call upon them to do it, you say publicly that you want them to do it.
  • corked — (of a wine) tainted through having a cork containing excess tannin

adjective taboo

  • disapproved — Simple past tense and past participle of disapprove.
  • extralegal — (of an action or situation) beyond the authority of the law; not regulated by the law.
  • outlawed — a lawless person or habitual criminal, especially one who is a fugitive from the law.

Antonyms for taboo

adj taboo

  • card-carrying — A card-carrying member of a particular group or political party is an official member of that group or party, rather than someone who supports it.
  • condign — (esp of a punishment) fitting; deserved
  • lawful — allowed or permitted by law; not contrary to law: a lawful enterprise.

adjective taboo

  • jural — pertaining to law; legal.
  • juridical — of or relating to the administration of justice.
  • mentionable — to refer briefly to; name, specify, or speak of: Don't forget to mention her contribution to the project.
  • warrantable — capable of being warranted.

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See also

Matching words

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