inhibitor

noun in·hib·i·tor \ in-ˈhi-bə-tər \

Updated on: 19 May 2018

Definition of inhibitor

: one that inhibits: such as

a : an agent that slows or interferes with a chemical action

b : a substance that reduces or suppresses the activity of another substance (such as an enzyme)

Recent Examples of inhibitor from the Web

Prep Probably the biggest inhibitor to making new friends (and lovers) is fear.

— anna pulley, RedEye Chicago, "Ask Anna: Where can I make new friends?," 14 May 2018
Turing's paper on the topic focused on a reaction that could be controlled by the addition of two chemicals: an activator that promotes it and an inhibitor that slows it down.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "Alan Turing’s chemistry hypothesis turned into a desalination filter," 5 May 2018
Several pharmaceutical companies are already in the process of developing sEH inhibitors for human trials for other conditions.

— elise takahama, BostonGlobe.com, "UMass Amherst food scientists discover how obesity could be linked to colon cancer," 30 Apr. 2018
Other studies in lung cancer have involved another checkpoint inhibitor, nivolumab, or Opdivo (made by Bristol-Myers Squibb), which works in a similar way to pembrolizumab.

— denise grady, New York Times, "Lung Cancer Patients Live Longer With Immune Therapy," 16 Apr. 2018
AB Keytruda, Yervoy and Opdivo are called checkpoint inhibitors.

— marilynn marchione, chicagotribune.com, "Immunotherapy scores big win against lung cancer in study," 16 Apr. 2018
Incyte’s drug, known as an IDO1 inhibitor, is designed to block an enzyme that tumor cells exploit to escape destruction by the body’s immune system.

— peter loftus, WSJ, "Incyte Shares Tumble After Cancer Drug Fails in Trial With Merck’s Keytruda," 6 Apr. 2018
Other studies in lung cancer have involved another checkpoint inhibitor, nivolumab, or Opdivo (made by Bristol-Myers Squibb), which works in a similar way to pembrolizumab.

— denise grady, BostonGlobe.com, "Lung cancer patients live longer with immune therapy," 17 Apr. 2018
Using experimental drugs in combination with drugs such as Keytruda, known as checkpoint inhibitors, has been a major focus of the industry’s research and development spending for years.

— charley grant, WSJ, "Biotech Gets a Reality Check," 6 Apr. 2018

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

First Known Use of inhibitor

circa 1611

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

inhibitor

noun in·hib·i·tor \ in-ˈhib-ət-ər \

medical Definition of inhibitor

: one that inhibits: as

a : an agent that slows or interferes with a chemical reaction

b : a substance that reduces the activity of another substance (as an enzyme)

c : a gene that checks the normal effect of another nonallelic gene when both are present

Learn More about inhibitor

Nglish: Translation of inhibitor for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of inhibitor for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about inhibitor

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inhibitor

Definition of inhibitor

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inhibitor

medical Definition of inhibitor

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inhibitor

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inhibitor

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