inhibition
3 synonyms for inhibition, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A feeling of self-consciousness or fear that stops someone acting freely.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use inhibition
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
lose your inhibitions
sexual inhibition
enzyme inhibition
Etymology
From Latin inhibitio, "a holding back," built from the verb inhibere, "to restrain."
Full origin of inhibition →Frequently asked questions
What does “inhibition” mean?
The word “inhibition” means a feeling of self-consciousness or fear that stops someone acting freely. In plain terms, a mental block that stops you doing something naturally, or (in science) a slowing-down of some process.
How do you pronounce “inhibition”?
“Inhibition” is pronounced ihn-hih-BIH-shuhn (/ɪnhɪˈbɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “inhibition” in a sentence?
Here is “inhibition” used in a sentence: “Stage fright is really just an inhibition about performing in front of others.”
What part of speech is “inhibition”?
“Inhibition” is a noun.
Where does the word “inhibition” come from?
The word “inhibition” comes from Latin. From Latin inhibitio, "a holding back," built from the verb inhibere, "to restrain.".
Is “inhibition” a common word?
“Inhibition” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “inhibition” have?
“Inhibition” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a feeling of self-consciousness or fear that stops someone acting freely.
