as in obstacles
something that makes movement or progress difficult
without the inhibition of their jackets, the boys were able to wrestle more vigorously
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Recent Examples of inhibitions
Narcissists sometimes get worse with age, as their remaining inhibitions fall away.
—
David Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
That means abandoning your inhibitions and not getting hung up on grammar or achieving proficiency, said Thomas Sauer, assistant director of resource development for the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Instead of stimulating the brain, alcohol slows it down and loosens inhibitions.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
The key is to relax, let go of your inhibitions, and just have fun.
—Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 17 Oct. 2025
Formal networking or making casual conversation with colleagues can sometimes feel awkward or forced, and many have welcomed the slight reduction to inhibitions that responsible use of alcohol affords.
—Melissa A. Wheeler, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Two fanbases found mutual ground, sympathetic to the other’s situation, with Newcastle previously unable to sign a senior player for three consecutive windows and Villa suffering similar inhibitions this summer.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Lammy shed his inhibitions—and found a national platform, in the media—while his future in the Party clouded over.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Aquarius season asks you to go within, especially with both the sun and Mercury transiting your secretive 12th house of privacy, inhibitions, dreams and unconscious patterns.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 19 Jan. 2025
David Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
That means abandoning your inhibitions and not getting hung up on grammar or achieving proficiency, said Thomas Sauer, assistant director of resource development for the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Instead of stimulating the brain, alcohol slows it down and loosens inhibitions.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
The key is to relax, let go of your inhibitions, and just have fun.
—Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 17 Oct. 2025
Formal networking or making casual conversation with colleagues can sometimes feel awkward or forced, and many have welcomed the slight reduction to inhibitions that responsible use of alcohol affords.
—Melissa A. Wheeler, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Two fanbases found mutual ground, sympathetic to the other’s situation, with Newcastle previously unable to sign a senior player for three consecutive windows and Villa suffering similar inhibitions this summer.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Lammy shed his inhibitions—and found a national platform, in the media—while his future in the Party clouded over.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Aquarius season asks you to go within, especially with both the sun and Mercury transiting your secretive 12th house of privacy, inhibitions, dreams and unconscious patterns.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 19 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inhibitions
Noun
-
But the obstacles are overwhelming.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Why cruise lines conduct safety drills Safety drills, also called muster drills, are not the brainchild of a sadistic cruise ship officer, trying to place obstacles between cruise guests and their sunbathing and cocktails.—
Erica Silverstein,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Raised in a rural village four hours from the Algerian capital, Khelif sold scrap copper as a young girl to fund her training, overcoming significant economic and societal hurdles.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Even with the rapidly decreasing price of launching things into space, there are incredible technological and financial hurdles that stand in the way of exploiting resources in orbit.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
At this scale, electrons start tunneling through barriers meant to contain them, causing current leakage even when devices are off.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Blake Snell is walking along one of the barriers giving every nearby fan — every one — a fist bump.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Check slopes for bare spots, holes and obstructions, like rocks, fences or poles.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Flat roofs with parapets (side walls), stepped roofs, saw-tooth roofs, and roofs with chimneys and other obstructions on top can collect snow in an unbalanced manner, the agency said.—
Bailey Allen,
The Providence Journal,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Such a link might also provide the quiet word that can avoid more public embarrassments.—
Ian Irving,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Vulnerability is currency on reality television, and after a season of exposing their own struggles and embarrassments, the other women are annoyed that Meredith wants to keep up appearances.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inhibitions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inhibitions. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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