inhibition

in·hi·bi·tion

noun \ˌin-hə-ˈbi-shən, ˌi-nə-\

Definition of INHIBITION

1

a : the act of inhibiting : the state of being inhibited

b : something that forbids, debars, or restricts

2

: an inner impediment to free activity, expression, or functioning: as

a : a mental process imposing restraint upon behavior or another mental process (as a desire)

b : a restraining of the function of a bodily organ or an agent (as an enzyme)

Examples of INHIBITION

1. She laughed loudly and without inhibition.
2. <an innate inhibition made it difficult for him to tell his girlfriend what he was really feeling>

First Known Use of INHIBITION

14th century

Related to INHIBITION

Synonyms

continence, discipline, discretion, constraint, refrainment, repression, reserve, restraint, self-command, self-control, self-restraint, suppression

Antonyms

disinhibition, incontinence, unconstraint

Related Words

command, control, mastery, possession; self-censorship, self-containment, self-denial, self-discipline, self-government, self-mastery, will, willpower; composure, self-poise, self-possession; aloofness, detachedness, distance; bashfulness, modesty, shyness; reticence, silence, taciturnity

Near Antonyms

self-abandonment, uninhibitedness; unrestrainedness; gratification, indulgence, overindulgence, self-indulgence; bluntness, candor, frankness; immoderacy, intemperance

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with INHIBITION

acoustician, acquisition, admonition, aesthetician, air-condition, ammunition, apparition, apposition, coalition, co-edition, competition, composition, cosmetician, decommission, decondition, definition, demolition, deposition, dietitian, disposition, disquisition, electrician, erudition, exhibition, expedition, exposition, extradition, first edition, imposition, in addition, inanition, in commission, inquisition, intermission, intromission, intuition, linguistician, logistician, malnutrition, malposition, manumission, mathematician, mechanician, micturition, obstetrician, on commission, opposition, Ordovician, parturition, politician, precognition, precondition, premonition, preposition, proposition, recognition, recondition, repetition, requisition, rescue mission, rhetorician, self-ignition, statistician, submunition, superstition, supposition, text edition, trade edition, transposition

in·hi·bi·tion

noun \ˌin-(h)ə-ˈbish-ən\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of INHIBITION

: the act or an instance of inhibiting or the state of being inhibited: as a (1) : a stopping or checking of a bodily action : a restraining of the function of an organ or an agent (as a digestive fluid or enzyme) <inhibition of the heartbeat by stimulation of the vagus nerve> <inhibition of plantar reflexes> (2) : interference with or retardation or prevention of a process or activity <inhibition of bacterial growth> b (1) : a desirable restraint or check upon the free or spontaneous instincts or impulses of an individual guided or directed by the social and cultural forces of the environment <the self-control so developed is called inhibition—C. W. Russell> (2) : a neurotic restraint upon a normal or beneficial impulse or activity caused by psychological inner conflicts or by sociocultural forces of the environment <other outspoken neurotic manifestations are general inhibitions such as inability to think, to concentrate—Muriel Ivimey> <inhibitions, phobias, compulsions, and other neurotic patterns—Psychological Abstracts>