Definition of inhibition
1a : the act of inhibiting : the state of being inhibitedb : something that forbids, debars, or restricts
2 : an inner impediment to free activity, expression, or functioning: such asa : 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)
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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
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DANCE LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING: No one can see you, so lose all inhibitions and shake what your mama gave ya!
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The club was hardly full—Yaeji was playing on the wet and cold night before Mother’s Day—but the track’s frenzied pitch quickly lowered inhibitions.
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The three-day conference kicked off with a card game that simultaneously lowered inhibitions of the attendees and gave them a reason to meet new people.
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.
14th Century
First Known Use of inhibition
14th century
Other Psychology Terms
INHIBITION Defined for English Language Learners
inhibition
playDefinition of inhibition for English Language Learners
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: a nervous feeling that prevents you from expressing your thoughts, emotions, or desires
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: the act of preventing or slowing the activity or occurrence of something
Medical Dictionary
inhibition
playMedical Definition of inhibition
: the act or an instance of inhibiting or the state of being inhibited: asa (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 growthb (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
Learn More about inhibition
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See words that rhyme with inhibition Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for inhibition Spanish Central: Translation of inhibition Nglish: Translation of inhibition for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of inhibition for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about inhibition
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