proscriptive

American  

[proh-skrip-tiv] / proʊˈskrɪp tɪv /

adjective

1. involving, imposing, or defining limits or prohibitions.

   We want the guidelines to be useful, broadly applicable, and not overly proscriptive and narrow.

   Rather than a proscriptive diet, in which the patient is limited to eating certain foods and measured portions, we encourage eating a wide range of foods in moderation.

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Other Word Forms

• nonproscriptive
  adjective
• unproscriptive
  adjective
• nonproscriptively
  adverb
• proscriptively
  adverb
• unproscriptively
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of proscriptive

First recorded in 1740–50; from Latin prōscript-, stem of prōscrībere “to publish in writing” ( see proscribe ( def. )) + -ive ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

proscriptive

But the prohibitive costs and proscriptive laws sometimes mean there’s no choice at all.

From Slate ● Oct. 3, 2024

Viewed this way, minding our p’s and q’s is less about proscriptive notions of correctness, and more about mindfulness, self-discovery and proper conduct.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 7, 2023

I don't want to be too proscriptive to what listeners should be seeing or feeling or thinking.

From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2022

I think the beginning was a long time ago for anything and everything, so the first step is never proscriptive or formulated.

From New York Times ● Apr. 27, 2022

The British Constitution was not made "for great, general and proscriptive exclusions; sooner or later it will destroy them, or they will destroy the constitution."

From Political Thought in England from Locke to Bentham by Harold Joseph Laski

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Related Words

• excessive
• exorbitant
• preposterous
• steep

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