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

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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