How to Understand & Avoid Midjourney Banned Words: Guide 2025

\n\n## Introduction

Midjourney is a powerful AI art generator, but it operates under strict content guidelines. One crucial aspect of these guidelines is the "banned words" list. This list, containing over 300 terms, prohibits users from generating images that violate Midjourney's policies, primarily focusing on safety, legality, and ethical considerations. Using these words can result in failed image generation, warnings, or even account suspension. This guide will walk you through understanding the banned words, why they exist, and how to effectively avoid them to create amazing AI art within Midjourney's boundaries. Avoiding these words is key to a positive and productive Midjourney experience.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the details, ensure you have the following:

• A Midjourney Account: You'll need an active Midjourney subscription to generate images.
• Familiarity with Midjourney Basics: A basic understanding of how to use Midjourney commands and prompts is helpful.
• Access to the Banned Words List (Indirectly): While Midjourney doesn't publish the exact list, understanding the categories and examples discussed below will be sufficient. Experimentation and observation will also help you identify potentially problematic terms.
• An Open Mind: Be prepared to rephrase your creative ideas to comply with the content policy.

Understanding the Midjourney Banned Words List

While Midjourney doesn't publicly release its comprehensive list of banned words, we can infer the types of words included based on their content policies and user experience. The banned words fall into several broad categories:

• NSFW Content: This includes explicit sexual content, nudity (especially involving minors), and depictions of sexual violence or exploitation.
• Hate Speech: Any language that promotes violence, discrimination, or hatred against individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics.
• Illegal Activities: References to illegal drugs, weapons, violence, or other criminal activities.
• Harmful Content: Depictions of self-harm, suicide, or other content that could be harmful to individuals or society.
• Political Topics (Sensitive): Highly sensitive or polarizing political topics that could incite conflict or spread misinformation.
• Copyrighted Material (Directly): While Midjourney can generate images inspired by existing works, directly prompting for copyrighted characters or scenes is often restricted.
• Real People (Potentially Problematic): Using the names of real people, especially in sensitive or controversial contexts, can trigger filters.

Why are these words banned?

Midjourney bans these words for several reasons:

• Legal Compliance: To comply with laws and regulations regarding content moderation, especially concerning harmful or illegal content.
• Ethical Considerations: To prevent the generation of content that could be offensive, harmful, or exploitative.
• Platform Safety: To maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all users.
• Brand Reputation: To protect Midjourney's brand image and avoid association with controversial or harmful content.

Steps to Avoid Midjourney Banned Words

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you avoid using banned words in your Midjourney prompts and generate successful images:

Step 1: Brainstorm and Refine Your Initial Idea

• Start Broad: Begin with a general concept for your image. What do you want to create?
• Identify Potential Red Flags: As you refine your idea, consider whether it involves any of the categories mentioned above (NSFW, hate speech, illegal activities, etc.).
• Example: Let's say you want to create an image of a warrior. This is a safe starting point.

Step 2: Craft Your Prompt Carefully

• Use Descriptive Language: Instead of using potentially banned words, use descriptive language to convey your intended meaning.
• Employ Synonyms: Replace potentially problematic words with synonyms that have a less controversial connotation.
• Be Vague When Necessary: If a specific detail is likely to trigger the filter, consider omitting it or using a more abstract term.
• Example: Instead of "sexy warrior," try "a strong warrior with intricate armor." Instead of "assault rifle," try "futuristic weapon."

Step 3: Test Your Prompt (Iteratively)

• Start with a Basic Prompt: Begin with a simple prompt that captures the essence of your idea.
• Add Details Gradually: Incrementally add more details to your prompt, testing it after each addition to see if it triggers the filter.
• Observe the Results: If the image generation fails or you receive a warning, identify the most recent addition that likely caused the issue.
• Example:
  • Initial Prompt: "A warrior." (Likely Safe)
  • Add Detail: "A warrior with a sword." (Likely Safe)
  • Add Detail: "A warrior with a bloody sword." (Potentially Problematic - "bloody" might be flagged depending on the context)
  • Alternative: "A warrior with a sword, after a battle." (Safer alternative)

Step 4: Use Contextual Clues to Guide the AI

• Emphasize Positive Attributes: Focus on positive aspects of your subject matter to steer the AI away from negative interpretations.
• Specify the Setting: Provide details about the environment and atmosphere to create a specific context.
• Use Keywords Related to Art Styles: Specify art styles or artists that are known for certain themes or aesthetics.
• Example: Instead of "a depressed person," try "a person sitting by a window, reflecting on life, in the style of Edward Hopper."

Step 5: Employ Euphemisms and Code Words (Use with Caution)

• Use Indirect Language: If you absolutely need to reference a sensitive topic, use euphemisms or code words that are less likely to be flagged.
• Be Aware of the Risks: This approach is not foolproof and may still result in failed image generation or warnings.
• Example: Instead of "pornography," you might try "erotic art" or "sensual imagery." However, even these terms could be flagged depending on the context.

Step 6: Consider Using Image Prompts (If Applicable)

• Upload a Relevant Image: If you have an image that visually represents your idea, you can use it as a prompt in Midjourney.
• Combine Image and Text Prompts: Use a combination of image and text prompts to guide the AI towards your desired outcome.
• Example: Upload an image of a statue and then use the text prompt "in the style of Michelangelo" to generate a similar statue in a different style.

Step 7: Explore Alternative Platforms (If Necessary)

• Research Other AI Art Generators: If you're consistently encountering issues with Midjourney's content filters, consider exploring other AI art generators that may have different policies.
• Understand Their Policies: Before using another platform, carefully review its content policies to ensure that it aligns with your creative goals.
• Consider FluxNSFW.ai: For users specifically interested in exploring NSFW content generation, FluxNSFW.ai (https://fluxnsfw.ai) offers an alternative platform with different content moderation policies. It's important to understand and respect the policies of any platform you choose.

Step 8: Learn from Your Mistakes

• Keep a Record of Failed Prompts: Track the prompts that resulted in failed image generation or warnings.
• Analyze the Reasons: Try to understand why those prompts were flagged and identify the problematic words or phrases.
• Refine Your Approach: Use this knowledge to refine your approach to prompt engineering and avoid similar issues in the future.

Step 9: Understand the Role of Negative Prompts

• Use --no to Exclude Elements: The --no parameter can be used to exclude specific elements from your image.
• Example: If you are getting unwanted results, try --no blood, --no gore, or --no violence.
• Fine-Tune Your Output: This allows for more precise control over the final image and helps avoid unwanted or problematic content.

Step 10: Be Mindful of Community Guidelines

• Respect Other Users: Even if you avoid triggering the filters, be mindful of the impact your content has on other users.
• Avoid Posting Offensive Content: Refrain from posting content that could be considered offensive, harmful, or discriminatory.
• Contribute Positively to the Community: Help create a safe and welcoming environment for all Midjourney users.

Examples of How to Rephrase Prompts

Here are some examples of how to rephrase prompts to avoid banned words:

• Original: "A nude woman in a forest." (Highly Likely to be Banned)
  • Alternative: "A woman in a flowing dress in a mystical forest, inspired by Pre-Raphaelite art." (Much Safer)
• Original: "A bloody battlefield scene." (Potentially Problematic)
  • Alternative: "A battlefield after a long war, with scattered weapons and a somber atmosphere." (Safer)
• Original: "A portrait of [Famous Politician] making a controversial statement." (Likely Problematic)
  • Alternative: "A portrait of a leader addressing a crowd, with a determined expression." (Safer)
• Original: "A child holding a gun." (Extremely Problematic)
  • Alternative: "A young character in a fantasy game holding a toy weapon." (Safer, but still potentially sensitive - consider avoiding altogether)

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• "Image generation failed" error: This usually indicates that your prompt contains a banned word or violates the content policy. Review your prompt carefully and try rephrasing it.
• "Content warning" message: This means that your prompt may contain sensitive content. Be prepared to rephrase your prompt or face potential consequences.
• Account suspension: Repeated violations of the content policy can result in account suspension. If this happens, contact Midjourney support to appeal the decision.
• Unexpected results: Even if you avoid banned words, you may still get unexpected results. Experiment with different prompts and settings to fine-tune your output.

Conclusion

Avoiding banned words in Midjourney is crucial for a positive and productive AI art creation experience. By understanding the categories of banned words, crafting your prompts carefully, and testing them iteratively, you can create amazing AI art within Midjourney's boundaries. Remember to be mindful of the content policy, respect other users, and contribute positively to the community. If you are specifically interested in creating NSFW content, platforms like FluxNSFW.ai (https://fluxnsfw.ai) may offer an alternative, but always ensure you understand and adhere to their specific content policies. By following these steps, you can unlock the full potential of Midjourney while staying compliant with its rules and regulations.