inhibition

inhibition — noun

1. A feeling of unease or shyness that makes you hold back your natural actions, wo

1.nounB2
Definition

A feeling of unease or shyness that makes you hold back your natural actions, words, or reactions, especially in social situations.

Example

After a few drinks, Tuan's inhibitions disappeared and he joined the dance floor.

collocation: inhibitions disappear / lose inhibitions

Defne's cultural inhibitions made her hesitate before disagreeing with her aunt.

cultural / social inhibitions + hesitate before [v]-ing

Common collocations
  • lose your inhibitions
  • overcome your inhibitions
  • drop your inhibitions
  • shed your inhibitions
  • social inhibitions
  • cultural inhibitions
  • sexual inhibitions
  • have no inhibitions
  • without inhibition
Synonyms
  • reserve

    Focuses on keeping feelings private; a personality trait rather than a situational fear.

  • self-consciousness

    Emphasises acute awareness of how others see you; stronger focus on embarrassment.

  • shyness

    General tendency to feel nervous around others; broader and less about a specific restraint.

  • restraint

    Can be positive self-control; does not carry the negative sense of being blocked by fear.

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

inhibition about (something / doing something)

lose / overcome / shed + one's inhibitions

have no inhibitions about (something / doing something)

Usage Note

Subject is typically a person's emotional state or social background. The plural form 'inhibitions' is very common when referring to multiple social fears or restraints. Frequently paired with verbs like 'lose', 'overcome', 'shed', or 'drop'.

Common Mistakes

I have an inhibition to speak in public.
I have an inhibition about speaking in public.
'inhibition' takes 'about + gerund', not 'to + infinitive'.
He has inhibition.
He has inhibitions.' OR 'He feels inhibited.
The countable plural is preferred for social/emotional senses; the uncountable form is rarer in this context.

2. The slowing down, reduction, or halting of a natural or chemical process — for e

2.nounC1
Definition

The slowing down, reduction, or halting of a natural or chemical process — for example, when a drug stops an enzyme from working, or when a signal in the nervous system is blocked.

Example

The new medication works through inhibition of a specific enzyme that triggers pain signals.

through inhibition of + noun phrase (technical mechanism)

Gabriela's experiment examined the inhibition of bacterial growth by a compound found in green tea.

inhibition of [process] by [agent]

Common collocations
  • enzyme inhibition
  • growth inhibition
  • corrosion inhibition
  • competitive inhibition
  • inhibition of activity
  • inhibition of reaction
Synonyms
  • suppression

    Stronger sense of active force being applied to stop something; common in immunology and psychology.

  • blocking

    More general and less technical; can describe any kind of obstruction.

  • restriction

    Focuses on limiting rather than stopping; broader and less precise in scientific contexts.

  • retardation

    Technical synonym primarily used in chemistry and physiology; less common in everyday speech.

Antonyms
  • activation

    The initiation or speeding up of a process.

  • stimulation

    The encouragement or enhancement of activity.

Grammar Patterns

inhibition of + (process / activity / chemical reaction)

cause / lead to + inhibition of + noun

Usage Note

Common in scientific and medical writing, where it describes a specific mechanism. Frequently found with a modifier that names what is being slowed down (e.g., 'enzyme inhibition', 'growth inhibition', 'corrosion inhibition'). The countable form ('an inhibition of...') is rare outside academic contexts.

Common Mistakes

The inhibition of growth of the bacteria.
The inhibition of bacterial growth.
Use a compound noun or an of-phrase, not both. Avoid stacking 'of' phrases when a simpler modifier works.

Word family

  • inhibit
    verbB2
  • inhibited
    adjectiveB2
  • uninhibited
    adjectiveC1
  • inhibitory
    adjectiveC1
  • inhibitor
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe holding back in social situations, but they differ in origin and emphasis. 'Inhibition' (sense 1) is a learned or situational fear that blocks natural expression — you can 'lose your inhibitions' after a drink or 'overcome' them with practice. 'Shyness' is a personality trait: a person is shy across many situations, not just a specific one. 'Self-consciousness' is the acute awareness of being watched or judged, which may be temporary (feeling self-conscious in a new outfit). 'Reserve' is a cooler, more controlled choice to keep feelings private; it can be a positive trait (reserved dignity). 'Restraint' implies active self-control, often in a morally neutral or positive sense (showing restraint in an argument). In short: inhibitions are fears you can shed; shyness is who you are; self-consciousness is what you feel; reserve is how you behave; restraint is what you choose.

reserve ↗shyness ↗self-consciousnessrestraint ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • without inhibition
  • loss of inhibition
  • under the influence of drugs lowers inhibitions

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'inhibition' comes from Latin 'inhibitiō, inhibitión-', meaning 'a holding back' or 'restraint', derived from the verb 'inhibere' — a combination of 'in-' (in, on) and 'habēre' (to hold, to have). It entered English through French in the late 14th century with a general meaning of 'prohibition' or 'legal restraint'. The psychological meaning — a mental block against natural impulses — developed in the late 19th century through the work of Sigmund Freud and other psychoanalysts. The biological and chemical sense — the slowing or stopping of a physiological process — became common in 20th-century medicine and science.