prohibitively
UK: prəˈhɪb.ɪ.tɪv.li | US: proʊˈhɪb.ɪ.t̬ɪv.li
adv. in a manner that prevents or discourages something (due to extreme difficulty, cost, or restriction)
adv. to an excessively high or unreasonable degree
prohibitively = prohibit<forbid> + ive<adjective suffix> + ly<adverb suffix>
- prohibit (from Latin prohibere, "to hold back, forbid"): pro- (forward) + habere (to hold).
- ive: Adjective-forming suffix indicating tendency or capacity.
- ly: Adverb-forming suffix indicating manner.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin prohibere, combining pro- (forward/away) and habere (to hold), originally meaning "to hold back." Over time, prohibit evolved to mean "to forbid by authority." The suffix -ive turns it into an adjective (prohibitive), describing something that restricts, and -ly further converts it into an adverb, emphasizing the manner of restriction—often implying excess (e.g., prohibitively expensive).
The cost of living in the city has risen prohibitively for many families.
Regulations were applied prohibitively, stifling small businesses.
The software’s licensing fees are prohibitively high for individual users.
Climate conditions made farming prohibitively difficult in the region.
The tax was designed prohibitively to discourage unhealthy consumption.