inhibition

play

noun in·hi·bi·tion \ 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: such as

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

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

See inhibition defined for English-language learners

See inhibition defined for kids

Examples of inhibition in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of inhibition from the Web

It’s inspired by a technique known as reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance (Risug), invented in India in the 1970s.

— emily anthes, Bloomberg.com, "Why We Can’t Have the Male Pill," 3 Aug. 2017
Unfortunately, this journey was so far outside of his comfort zone Alex never felt free enough to embrace our connection without inhibitions.

— rachel lindsay, PEOPLE.com, "Rachel Lindsay Says There Will Be 2 'Gut-Wrenching Goodbyes' — and a MAJOR Breakdown Like She's 'Never Had Before'," 29 June 2017
There’s an inhibition-loosening abandon to book club: For 20- and 30-somethings a decade-plus removed from freshman seminar, sitting in a room with strangers and talking Big Ideas can feel like a suspension of the rules of real-life gameplay.

— jason chen, The Cut, "Delete Grindr. Join Book Club.," 20 June 2017
Mr. Gurney, though, had by that time shed many of his own inhibitions as a playwright.

— ben brantley, New York Times, "A Patrician Older Gentleman Morphs Into an Angry Young Man," 15 June 2017
Women were perhaps more casual — there were more flats than in New York, and heels were quickly chucked in favor of walking around barefoot — and were quicker rid themselves of their clothing and inhibitions.

— wednesday martin, The Hollywood Reporter, "Inside 'Skirt Club,' Hollywood and New York's "High Glamour" Sex Party for Women Only," 9 June 2017
Her most persistent suitor is a surgeon pushing aggressively against the limits and inhibitions of medical science.

— ron charles, The Denver Post, "The most delightful heroine since Elizabeth Bennet," 8 June 2017
But older people have all the vanity, inhibition, forgetfulness, wishful thinking and lack of caution that younger people have, and won't wear pads.

— neil steinberg, CNN, "How to fall to your death and live to tell the tale," 7 June 2017
DO DANCE LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING: No one can see you, so lose all inhibitions and shake what your mama gave ya!

— larry lage, The Seattle Times, "Here’s a do-and-don’t list to mascots, from a former mascot," 2 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inhibition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of inhibition

14th century

inhibition Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

disinhibition, incontinence, unconstraint

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

INHIBITION Defined for English Language Learners

inhibition

play

noun

Definition of inhibition for English Language Learners

: a nervous feeling that prevents you from expressing your thoughts, emotions, or desires
: the act of preventing or slowing the activity or occurrence of something

Medical Dictionary

inhibition

play

noun in·hi·bi·tion \ ˌin-(h)ə-ˈbish-ən \

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