1
as in impeding
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the cold inhibited her from getting much work done that morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in controlling
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
laws designed to inhibit the powers of the intelligence organizations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dissuading
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
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 inhibiting
Mature dill plants can harm tomato plants by taking up soil nutrients and inhibiting tomato root growth.
—
Felicia Feaster, Martha Stewart, 4 June 2026
This follows a series of antitrust victories against the NCAA and power conferences that have upended a system long inhibiting players’ abilities to fully benefit from the wealth their talents generated.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 June 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
Pre-emergent herbicides work by inhibiting root development immediately after a seed germinates.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 May 2026
Throughout the day, adenosine gradually accumulates as a byproduct of brain activity, increasing feelings of sleepiness by inhibiting wake-promoting regions such as the basal forebrain.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 5 May 2026
Polyphenols in pomegranate may help lower blood pressure by improving arterial function, increasing nitric oxide production, and inhibiting the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).
—Md Published, Verywell Health, 28 Apr. 2026
Medication tackles mutation Daraxonrasib works by inhibiting a protein mutation associated with pancreatic cancer.
—Eva Flowe
april 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Trigger-point injections reverse the hyper-irritability of nerves by inhibiting the influx of neurochemicals and re-regulating the function of various nerves.
—Dr. Patricia Richard, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2026
Felicia Feaster, Martha Stewart, 4 June 2026
This follows a series of antitrust victories against the NCAA and power conferences that have upended a system long inhibiting players’ abilities to fully benefit from the wealth their talents generated.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 June 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
Pre-emergent herbicides work by inhibiting root development immediately after a seed germinates.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 May 2026
Throughout the day, adenosine gradually accumulates as a byproduct of brain activity, increasing feelings of sleepiness by inhibiting wake-promoting regions such as the basal forebrain.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 5 May 2026
Polyphenols in pomegranate may help lower blood pressure by improving arterial function, increasing nitric oxide production, and inhibiting the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).
—Md Published, Verywell Health, 28 Apr. 2026
Medication tackles mutation Daraxonrasib works by inhibiting a protein mutation associated with pancreatic cancer.
—Eva Flowe
april 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Trigger-point injections reverse the hyper-irritability of nerves by inhibiting the influx of neurochemicals and re-regulating the function of various nerves.
—Dr. Patricia Richard, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inhibiting
Verb
-
Over the years, the number of cars parking near the bridge — often illegally, sometimes impeding emergency vehicles — has risen.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Advertisement More than 600 defendants were accused of assaulting or impeding law enforcement officers during the riot, and nearly 175 were accused of using dangerous or deadly weapons.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
And there’s a chance the Giants vote against Sacramento as an expansion site because the Giants want to continue controlling the market.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
-
As with minimizing soil disturbance, this, too, helps tremendously with controlling erosion, increasing the carbon content of soil and conserving moisture.—
Special to The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The jury in March found O’Connor guilty of crimes including child endangerment and furnishing alcohol to a minor, and dissuading a witness.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
-
Because having peers who smoke increases young people’s chances of starting themselves, fewer kids being able to get their hands on cigarettes should have a ripple effect, dissuading more and more of their peers from experimenting.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Last year, Alexander Isak’s eventual defection following a summer-long saga proved disastrous, hampering Newcastle’s own business, which had already been affected by Paul Mitchell’s departure as sporting director in May and by being pipped to their top targets.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
-
Deep mistrust among some people in the town is hampering response efforts to the outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus — for which there is no vaccine.—
Emmet Livingstone,
NPR,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Such a drone boat is supposedly capable of continuous, autonomous loiter operations in which the Corsair maintains its position while autonomously regulating power consumption and only engaging its engine when needed, according to a Saronic blog post.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
9 June 2026
-
The court’s abdication of its modern responsibility for supervising electoral democracy seems to rest on the naive belief that democracy will succeed in regulating itself.—
Noah Feldman,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
For instance, the federal permitting process is notoriously long and costly, discouraging the development of domestic production capacity.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Oc Register,
7 June 2026
-
Now the rise of AI is discouraging engagement with any human beings at all; instead, more and more people are forming their views in conversation with a machine that lacks moral sense.—
Jeffrey Rosen,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
This structural debt was hindering basic operations and the company’s ability to serve customers, especially as clients’ technology needs evolve.—
Sage Lazzaro,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
-
There are reports that China may have provided Iran with access to its BeiDou satellite navigation system, significantly improving the accuracy of Iran’s missiles and drones and hindering any effort to jam or spoof them.—
Michael P. Dempsey,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
Over time, as the fines began to stack up, the FMF began to launch campaigns aimed at curbing the chant.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
-
If the administration’s push to bring back imports does end up curbing grocery-store prices, ranchers’ loss will be consumers’ gain.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inhibiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inhibiting. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
