prohibitively

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prohibitively" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is excessively high or extreme, often in the context of costs or barriers that prevent action. Example: "The cost of the new software was prohibitively expensive for our small business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Regulation is generally light thanks to weak governance; engineers can try things out that are either prohibited or prohibitively bureaucratic elsewhere.

The Economist

The drugs to be tested were chosen because there is some promising data either in Ebola or other viral infections, they can be produced in sufficient quantities and they are not prohibitively expensive – which may be another barrier to ZMapp.

The Guardian

Real estate markets have flooded with mainland money, making home ownership prohibitively expensive.

The Guardian

Without a modern road network, doing business in Nigeria will remain prohibitively expensive and logistically challenging.

The Guardian - Opinion

Unless passengers can book weeks in advance, rail can be prohibitively expensive for many people.

The Guardian

But even one child can be prohibitively expensive.

The Guardian - Opinion

WINE LIST Fascinating and not prohibitively expensive collections of wines (heavy on the whites) and sakes.

The New York Times - Food

It would be prohibitively expensive to break the contract and Russia has no viable candidate to replace him, the RFU president emeritus, Vyacheslav Koloskov, has argued.

The Guardian - Sport

The letter says that as of the end of October the IT system, named Chiron 2, makes requests for medical transfer "prohibitively" difficult and involves 12 time-consuming steps.

The Guardian

How can Javid legitimise touts, making access to the arts prohibitively expensive for many, and yet also be the culture secretary responsible for the simple act of getting people through the doors to see stuff?

The Guardian - Opinion

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation undertook its own assessment of expanding the port at Abbot Point and found dumping 3m cubic metres of dredge spoil on land would be prohibitively expensive.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing costs, consider using "prohibitively" to emphasize that something is not just expensive but unaffordable or unfeasible due to its high price.

Common error

Avoid using "prohibitively" when something is merely expensive. Reserve it for situations where the cost or difficulty presents a definitive barrier.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "prohibitively" functions as an intensifier, modifying adjectives or adverbs to express that something is excessively high or extreme. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It indicates a degree that effectively prevents a certain action or outcome. Examples in Ludwig show it commonly modifying "expensive", but also "difficult", or "bureaucratic".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prohibitively" is an adverb used to emphasize that something is excessively high or extreme, typically acting as a barrier. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in news and business contexts. To best utilize "prohibitively", reserve it for scenarios where a factor like cost genuinely prevents an action, as opposed to simply being expensive. When other semantic nuances are desired, alternatives include "excessively" or "unduly". Ludwig's examples showcase that the word "prohibitively" is a strong adverb that is well understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively

Direct synonym, indicating something goes beyond acceptable limits.

unduly

Implies something is inappropriately or unjustifiably high.

unreasonably

Highlights the lack of logic or justification in the high level.

inordinately

Suggests a degree that exceeds what is normal or reasonable.

overly

Indicates an excess of something, often leading to negative consequences.

extremely

A general intensifier that indicates a high degree of something.

outrageously

Emphasizes the shocking or unacceptable nature of the excess.

immoderately

Indicates a lack of restraint or moderation.

at an exorbitant rate

Focuses specifically on price or cost being excessively high.

at a steep price

More figurative, suggesting a high cost or consequence.

FAQs

How can I use "prohibitively" in a sentence?

Use "prohibitively" to describe something that is so expensive or difficult that it prevents people from doing or obtaining something. For example, "The cost of housing in the city is "prohibitively expensive" for many young professionals".

What are some alternatives to "prohibitively"?

You can use alternatives like "excessively", "unduly", or "unreasonably" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say something is "prohibitively difficult"?

Yes, "prohibitively" can modify other adjectives besides "expensive". Saying something is "prohibitively difficult" means it is so challenging that it effectively prevents success or participation.

What's the difference between "prohibitively expensive" and "very expensive"?

"Very expensive" indicates a high cost, while ""prohibitively expensive"" implies the cost is so high that it acts as a barrier, preventing purchase or participation.