Definition of inhibitnext
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as in to discourage
to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action a fundamental sense of propriety should have inhibited you from making a drunken spectacle of yourself

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb inhibit differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of inhibit are forbid, interdict, and prohibit. While all these words mean "to debar one from doing something or to order that something not be done," inhibit implies restraints or restrictions that amount to prohibitions, not only by authority but also by the exigencies of the time or situation.

conditions inhibiting the growth of free trade

When is forbid a more appropriate choice than inhibit?

The words forbid and inhibit can be used in similar contexts, but forbid implies that the order is from one in authority and that obedience is expected.

smoking is forbidden in the building

When is it sensible to use interdict instead of inhibit?

While in some cases nearly identical to inhibit, interdict implies prohibition by civil or ecclesiastical authority usually for a given time or a declared purpose.

practices interdicted by the church

When might prohibit be a better fit than inhibit?

The synonyms prohibit and inhibit are sometimes interchangeable, but prohibit suggests the issuing of laws, statutes, or regulations.

prohibited the sale of liquor

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inhibit Scientists went to work developing drugs to inhibit the gene, and there are currently four such drugs approved for lowering cholesterol. Alice Park, Time, 28 May 2026 Thinning enhances light penetration and is especially beneficial for trees and shrubs that grow quickly to inhibit overgrowth. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 May 2026 In 2024, Carolyn Silverman and I wrote about how 82% of the American population has been sorted into states controlled by a single party, inhibiting political choice and eroding representative democracy. Mary Ellen Klas, Mercury News, 26 May 2026 Targeting a single spacecraft, such as ICEYE-X36, in a constellation of similar imaging satellites would do little to inhibit the access of Ukraine or other Western nations to radar surveillance imagery. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for inhibit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inhibit
Verb
  • This ruling sets a troubling precedent that undermines protections afforded to interstate commerce and impedes site remediation, as well as the safe and effective long-term management of these materials for customers in Michigan and throughout the country.
    Heath Kalb, CBS News, 28 May 2026
  • His attempts to impede the certification of the 2020 election led to him being charged with obstruction of an official proceeding, alongside hundreds of January 6th rioters.
    Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • The chemical behind the explosion — ammonium nitrate — is not regulated under RMP.
    Evan Bush, NBC news, 30 May 2026
  • On Monday, Pope Leo XIV published his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, calling for AI to be disarmed and regulated in the service of humanity.
    Shlomit Wagman, Fortune, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • At first it was allowed, then discouraged, then more firmly refused.
    Vogue, Vogue, 1 June 2026
  • Its journal was essentially an academic publication, and images were discouraged.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Undeterred, the siblings set off on a perilous journey, helped and hindered by both natural and supernatural elements along the way.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
  • Last year, probation officials began requiring CLERB to seek court approval before obtaining records in cases involving juveniles — a process former CLERB officials and advocates described as hindering meaningful oversight.
    Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • The wall drawings also contain erasure marks, vestiges of the artist’s false starts and corrections.
    Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • Substituting regular flour for options that contain more protein when baking, such as oat, almond, chickpea, or whole wheat flour.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • Several recent papers suggest that the rent-control scheme might even be making the housing shortage worse in some places by causing landlords to take units off the rental market and dissuading developers from building.
    Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
  • That’s an enticing bargain at any time, although long lines sometimes dissuade customers, especially when gas is inexpensive.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Roupp’s night, though, comes with a caveat because the righty was hampered by back discomfort.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
  • Reducing false positives and negatives Real-world conditions such as poor lighting, difficult viewing angles, extreme facial expressions, concealment by face masks or sunglasses, and poor image quality can still hamper performance, leading to faulty identification.
    Vijayan Asari, The Conversation, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • That same year, France also proposed an EU-wide minimum airfare price to curb ultra-cheap flights.
    Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
  • His timing was perfect, because groups of parents had recently begun organizing to pressure their schools to curb screen time.
    Tyler Kingkade, NBC news, 31 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Inhibit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inhibit. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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