Midjourney banned words stifling your creativity, blocking your brilliant prompt ideas left and right?
Don’t sweat it – this quick guide will help you escape the dreaded error messages.
You’ll learn the secret rules of the Midjourney word blacklist, decoding the bot’s strict policies so you can keep generating captivating AI art within the legal limits.
What Are Midjourney Banned Words?
Midjourney, like other AI art generators, has banned certain words and phrases from being used in prompts.
These banned or blocked words are typically ones that can generate harmful, dangerous, explicit, or illegal content.
When users include these banned words in their prompts, they will get an error message stating that their prompt violates Midjourney’s content policy.
The image will not be generated.
Midjourney’s banned word list aims to uphold community guidelines and prevent abuse of the platform.
It helps ensure that AI-generated images are not used to spread hate, violence, nudity, or other inappropriate content.
Banned Word/Phrase | Reason for Ban | Suggested Alternative |
---|---|---|
Racial slurs | Offensive and harmful | Avoid using slurs |
Sexually explicit terms | Inappropriate content | Use tasteful descriptions |
Violent actions | Unethical/illegal promotion | Use peaceful language |
Brand names | Copyright concerns | Generic descriptions |
Political figures | Controversial associations | General roles instead |
Why Does Midjourney Ban Words?
There are a few key reasons why Midjourney prohibits certain words and phrases:
6 Midjourney Rules & Terms To Follow
To avoid any issues when using Midjourney, make sure you follow these key rules:
By sticking to these guidelines as you create AI-generated images, you can avoid any issues that might get your Midjourney account suspended.
List of Words Banned in Midjourney
Midjourney does not provide a public list of every single banned word on its platform.
However, based on user testing and reported errors, these are some of the major categories of prohibited words users should avoid:
Banned: Gore Words
Any extremely violent and graphic words related to gore are banned on Midjourney.
This includes terms like:
- Mutilated
- Dismembered
- Decapitated
- Disemboweled
- Slaughtered
The AI will not generate horrifying, shocking images of violence and bodily harm.
Keep prompts free of these gruesome terms.
Banned: Adultery Words
Words alluding to adultery and sex outside of marriage are blocked. For example:
- Cheating
- Adulterous
- Affair
- Mistress
- Infidelity
Midjourney aims to keep content relatively family-friendly, so prompts including these words will be rejected.
Stick to more general terms like “couple” or “romance.”
Banned: Body Parts Words
Very specific words for private body parts and explicit nudity often get banned by Midjourney’s filter.
Banned terms include:
- Penis
- Vagina
- Testicles
- Buttocks
- Scrotum
To avoid issues, use more subtle anatomical descriptions like “torso” or “back” rather than graphic, R-rated terminology.
Banned: Clothing Words
Certain words implying a lack of clothing or revealing attire are prohibited due to Midjourney’s policy against adult content.
Banned words include:
- Topless
- Lingerie
- Underwear
- Nude
- Bikini
Instead, describe clothing styles generally without references to underwear or exact amounts of clothing articles.
Banned: Taboo Words
Strong profanity, racial slurs, and derogatory language get flagged by Midjourney’s banned word filter.
Specific banned slurs and curses include:
- F*ck
- Sh*t
- B*tch
- Sl*t
- N-word
- R-word
Avoid typing out full swear words in prompts.
Use creative workarounds like “forgot” instead of the F-word or safer terms like “jerk.”
Banned: Drugs Words
References to illegal substances and paraphernalia are prohibited.
Banned drug-related words include:
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Pills
- Methamphetamine
- Bong
- Pipe
Stick to lawful products and activities in your prompts.
Mentions of drugs or drug use will just trigger the banned word filter.
Banned: People’s Words
Words specific to certain banned individuals like criminals or controversial public figures also cannot be used.
For example:
- Hitler
- Manson
- Bundy
- Stalin
- Escobar
Referencing infamous, unethical people by name in prompts goes against Midjourney’s rules, so find creative workarounds if needed.
More Illegal Words That You Should Not Use in Midjourney
Along with the categories above, prompts cannot contain:
- Direct threats of violence or physical harm
- Images sexualizing minors
- Stolen copyrighted content
- Impersonation of a real person
- Brand logos or trademarks
Anything illegal or that enables dangerous, unethical behavior is strictly prohibited by Midjourney.
Carefully construct your prompts to avoid anything immoral or unlawful.
Tips to Escape From the Midjourney Filter
If your prompt gets rejected due to a banned word, don’t try to force it through. Rules are there for a reason.
But you can often reword banned phrases in creative ways the AI will accept:
- Use synonyms – Swap out a banned word for a “safer” synonym, like using “backside” instead of “buttocks.”
- Avoid specifics – Go for more general descriptions rather than detailed, R-rated terminology whenever possible.
- Employ workarounds – Substitute curse words for milder words like “dang” or “crud.”
- Focus on context – Explain the full set/scene rather than using controversial words out of context.
- Use artistic styles – Describing a style like cubism or surrealism can achieve a striking image without unsafe terms.
With practice and closer attention to banned words, you can hone prompts that don’t break Midjourney’s rules but still produce impressive results.
Just avoid trying to actively circumvent the filter.
Final Thoughts
Midjourney’s banned word list keeps the community safe and uses AI responsibly.
While prompts do get rejected sometimes, following the guidelines helps prevent issues.
With creativity and care, you can craft prompts within the rules that generate stunning, shareable AI art.
FAQs: Midjourney Banned Words
What Is Not Allowed in Midjourney?
Midjourney bans harmful, dangerous, explicit, or illegal content by prohibiting certain words and phrases in prompts that could generate images violating its rules.
How Do I Get Past Midjourney Filters?
Use creative workarounds like synonyms for banned words and focus on context over specifics. Never try tricking filters. Follow all Midjourney rules while crafting prompts that generate stunning, shareable AI art within legal limits.
I have been working with AI prompts for over 5 years, and I have published several articles and books on the topic. I am passionate about the potential of AI prompts to help people create better content. I am also a frequent speaker at AI conferences, where I share my knowledge and expertise with others.
“Hillary Clinton” and “Nancy Pelosi” are banned. Not sure how or why, but maybe there are some more ways that the powerful have managed to get some stuff silently banned as well.