INHIBITED Synonyms: 187 Similar and Opposite Words

inhibited 1 of 2

adjective

as in restrained

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inhibited

2 of 2

verb

past tense of inhibit

as in hampered

to create difficulty for the work or activity of the cold inhibited her from getting much work done that morning

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as in controlled

to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) laws designed to inhibit the powers of the intelligence organizations

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as in dissuaded

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

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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 inhibited

Adjective

Both players were so inhibited for the final game of the set that the level of play resembled something from a local park. — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 27 May 2026 This really is a time to be less inhibited about going out. — Joe Hernandez, NPR, 25 May 2026 School is the crucible where raw vitality encounters the collective will to impose order and control but also to bring cultural richness to lives that might otherwise remain inhibited and crude. — Tim Parks, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026 Her last and only boyfriend, Tim, would have been too inhibited. — Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026 Participants who appeared engaged, responsive, and comfortable in the interaction, maintaining eye contact and seeming open rather than inhibited, were far more likely to be liked. — Big Think, 18 Mar. 2026 Callie hangs out with her more inhibited best friend, Minnie Dunn, played spectacularly well by Katherine Mallen Kupferer. — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026 There are students who feel inhibited from expressing their Jewish or Zionist identity because of the atmosphere of the atmosphere of intimidation or harassment on college campuses. — Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025 Nini and Lali seemed happier without him—more relaxed, less inhibited. — Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

Verb

Historical discriminatory practices like redlining have inhibited homeownership for Black and Latino families across the nation dating back to the 1930s. — Stephanie A. Dhuman, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026 Both honey and garlic fall into the category of foods in which the bacteria can live, but under normal circumstances, the growth of spores would be inhibited, says Joy Gail Waite-Cusic, a professor of food safety at Oregon State University. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2026 Both mainly reduced trade barriers and committed all three governments to avoid policies that inhibited commercial flows with one another. — Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026 The rough waters, which included waves that were about 13 feet high, inhibited rescue efforts. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026 Emerging research shows that the diaphragm’s ability to act as a respiratory muscle is inhibited during active bracing for spinal stability. — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 This action supports methanogens, too, since they are inhibited by oxygen. — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 27 July 2026 Ferreira found that peptides in the venom powerfully inhibited an enzyme involved in regulating blood pressure. — Steve Midway, STAT, 16 July 2026 Moon said that grieving Barnett has been a slow, complex process inhibited by the nearly two years of legal proceedings between her father’s death and Johnson’s conviction. — Ilana Arougheti june 30, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inhibited

Adjective

Producers who do choose to use barrels do so to enhance the fruit flavors and not overpower them thus making elegant, restrained whites.

— Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2026
Dark and atmospheric, yet restrained and sophisticated, as Dunn-Edwards describes it, this hue represents a clear shift in design toward depth, personality, and nuanced warmth for both contemporary and traditional styles.

— Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of restrained

Verb

And that is part of what has hampered us from doing anything.

— Nilay Patel, The Verge, 5 Oct. 2026
As ongoing offensive line struggles and continued pass coverage breakdowns hampered efforts, Washington faced dim prospects entering Week 3’s showdown with the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks.

— Mike Jones, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of hampered

Verb

Trump may be taking a risk by leaning into this more, though, because Democrats may be dissuaded by his close involvement in the bill.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026
This has not dissuaded residents from demanding action from city officials.

— Noah Daly August 2, Idaho Statesman, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of dissuaded

Verb

The ongoing conflict that has driven people from their homes in Iran as well as an internet shutdown and a lack of full cooperation from the two governments partially impeded the team's efforts to get information.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
The ongoing conflict that has driven people from their homes in Iran as well as an internet shutdown and a lack of full cooperation from the two governments partially impeded the team’s efforts to get information.

— Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of impeded

Verb

The expert panel also found insufficient data to set strict healthy reference ranges for the abundance of individual microbial species, and discouraged testing companies from offering therapeutic advice based on results.

— Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026
The panel also said there isn’t enough information to establish strict healthy reference ranges for the abundance of individual microbial species, and discouraged testing companies from providing therapeutic advice based on results.

— Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of discouraged

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“Inhibited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inhibited. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of inhibited

adjective

verb

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