as in obstacles
something that makes movement or progress difficult
without the inhibition of their jackets, the boys were able to wrestle more vigorously
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 inhibitions
In a race to find out who caused this marital mayhem, emotions will be high, inhibitions will be low, and everyone will have access to an open bar.
—
Katie Campione, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
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
Katie Campione, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inhibitions
Noun
-
Yards with narrow passages, tight corners, and many obstacles like trees, shrubs, or garden beds, or steep inclines make the use of a riding lawnmower, especially a traditional riding mower, more tedious than helpful.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Parents may go to great lengths to remove obstacles from their child’s path, unintentionally hindering the development of life skills1.—
Jazmin Towe,
Parents,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While autonomous driving has been promised by tech companies for years, the sector has faced technical and regulatory hurdles.—
Kai Nicol-Schwarz,
CNBC,
25 Feb. 2026
-
There are other hurdles to the weight-loss medications.—
Barbara Mantel,
NBC news,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There are no barriers to entry in sports, nobody is priced out of participation.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The absolute security that George felt about his own social position, plus some liberal impulse stirring within him, led him to want to take down the barriers that the Mardi Gras krewes—social organizations of immense prestige—had erected against Jews, at least on behalf of the Lemanns.—
Nicholas Lemann,
New Yorker,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
An explanation as to how the FAA is ensuring awareness of existing regulations on markings and notifications of obstructions, and how the agency will work with others to share those policies.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Crews advanced hose lines to the second floor and had difficulty gaining access because of obstructions behind the bedroom door, according to the release.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But anomaly detection may have prevented embarrassments like the one at OPERA.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Feb. 2026
-
All the teams ran largely reliably and there were no major embarrassments playing out in front of the public and the media.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inhibitions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inhibitions. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
