taboo
/təˈbuː/
noun
- A social or religious custom that forbids or strongly discourages a certain action, topic, or behavior.
- The tribe has a taboo against eating certain animals.
- In some cultures, discussing death is a taboo.
- Breaking a taboo can lead to being shunned by the community.
adjective
- Forbidden or strongly discouraged by social or religious custom.
- The topic of mental health was once taboo, but now people talk about it more openly.
- In that society, it is taboo to touch another person's head.
- Asking someone their salary is considered taboo in many workplaces.
Synonyms
Antonyms
verb
- To forbid or prohibit something based on social or religious custom.
- Many cultures taboo the consumption of certain foods during religious festivals.
- The community taboos speaking ill of the dead.
- The ancient laws tabooed any contact with outsiders.