diff --git a/doc/usage/configuration.rst b/doc/usage/configuration.rst
index 5866b0e297..906827ff32 100644
--- a/doc/usage/configuration.rst
+++ b/doc/usage/configuration.rst
@@ -678,6 +678,11 @@ General configuration
    :term:`object` names (for object types where a "module" of some kind is
    defined), e.g. for :rst:dir:`py:function` directives.  Default is ``True``.
 
+.. confval:: toc_object_entries
+
+  Create table of contents entries for domain objects (e.g. functions, classes,
+  attributes, etc.). Default is ``True``.
+
 .. confval:: toc_object_entries_show_parents
 
    A string that determines how domain objects (e.g. functions, classes,
diff --git a/sphinx/config.py b/sphinx/config.py
index 45df6bb005..2906a32857 100644
--- a/sphinx/config.py
+++ b/sphinx/config.py
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ class Config:
         'default_role': (None, 'env', [str]),
         'add_function_parentheses': (True, 'env', []),
         'add_module_names': (True, 'env', []),
+        'toc_object_entries': (True, 'env', [bool]),
         'toc_object_entries_show_parents': ('domain', 'env',
                                             ENUM('domain', 'all', 'hide')),
         'trim_footnote_reference_space': (False, 'env', []),
diff --git a/sphinx/directives/__init__.py b/sphinx/directives/__init__.py
index 2c8bdcdc51..e59cb1295d 100644
--- a/sphinx/directives/__init__.py
+++ b/sphinx/directives/__init__.py
@@ -239,8 +239,12 @@ def run(self) -> List[Node]:
             finally:
                 # Private attributes for ToC generation. Will be modified or removed
                 # without notice.
-                signode['_toc_parts'] = self._object_hierarchy_parts(signode)
-                signode['_toc_name'] = self._toc_entry_name(signode)
+                if self.env.app.config.toc_object_entries:
+                    signode['_toc_parts'] = self._object_hierarchy_parts(signode)
+                    signode['_toc_name'] = self._toc_entry_name(signode)
+                else:
+                    signode['_toc_parts'] = ()
+                    signode['_toc_name'] = ''
             if name not in self.names:
                 self.names.append(name)
                 if not noindex: