Definition of inhibition in English:

noun

• 1A feeling that makes one self-conscious and unable to act in a relaxed and natural way.

  ‘the children, at first shy, soon lost their inhibitions’

  mass noun ‘she showed an enthusiasm for sex and a lack of inhibition which was entirely alien to him’

  More example sentences

  • ‘And what with alcohol removing your natural inhibitions, I… did some things that I shouldn't have.’
  • ‘Once the Soviet Union collapsed, the fear and inhibitions mostly disappeared, but the psychological need to confront ‘evil’ states remained.’
  • ‘I remember being a little shy about bathing outside naked but then my inhibitions would disappear at the sheer joy of feeling that soft warm water on my hot skin.’
  • ‘Anxieties and inhibitions tend to dissolve into a feeling of emotional warmth, wellbeing and pleasant drowsiness.’
  • ‘‘We can't control everything,’ he said referring to the lack of inhibitions and judgment drunk drivers exhibit.’
  • ‘Unfortunately, lost inhibitions don't just spell meaningful heart-to-hearts: they spell plenty of bad behaviour, too.’
  • ‘A good alternative is vacation class - martial arts, music, dance - which colours a child's life, enhancing confidence and wiping away diffidence and inhibitions.’
  • ‘Their program aims to help couples confront their inhibitions and feelings of anger, anxiety or shame through developing the behaviors and emotions needed for healthy reconnection.’
  • ‘Ecstasy reduced, not to say obliterated, social inhibitions.’
  • ‘I sense in Monica's response a surprising inhibition, a lack of confidence that a true union is possible.’
  • ‘The first of its kind, this ongoing workshop is only aimed to help kids from lower-income groups abandon their inhibitions and build their confidence.’
  • ‘Listening to the Orange Sky that night, I let go - of inhibitions, of anxieties - if only for the duration of the music.’
  • ‘With love, there should be no reservations, no inhibitions when making love to the person who undoubtedly has your heart.’
  • ‘I give myself away through my music, my true feelings, shedding all inhibitions.’
  • ‘The inhibitions disappear and the red face is a result of happy exertion rather than excruciating bashfulness.’
  • ‘Unfortunately, people have a lot of inhibitions and fears about going to a doctor.’
  • ‘It was good seeing some friends lose their inhibitions and dance like there was no tomorrow.’
  • ‘Both the sexes move so closely that inhibitions and hesitations are a thing of the past now.’
  • ‘The idea is to rise above everything, shed all the inhibitions and fears, and be part of the Games.’
  • ‘It was still not strong enough to allow him to overcome his inhibitions and his fears.’

  Synonyms

  shyness, reticence, self-consciousness, reserve, diffidence, bashfulness, coyness, embarrassment, unease, wariness, reluctance, discomfort, hesitance, hesitancy, apprehension, nerves, nervousness, insecurity

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  1. 1.1Psychology A restraint on the direct expression of an instinct.
     More example sentences

     • ‘But Freud also acknowledged that purely external factors, rather than internal inhibitions, might prevent the direct expression of such impulses.’
     • ‘She then builds up a secondary inhibition to sexual arousal in order to avoid the frustration accompanying an unsatisfying sexual experience.’
     • ‘The moral that Freud drew from this reasoning was that the inhibition of natural emotional expressions could lead to dangerous consequences.’
     • ‘Further, it lowers inhibitions, spurring individuals who are inclined towards sexually abusive or deviant behaviors to act on their fantasies.’
     • ‘An imbalance of excitation and inhibition may underlie several neurological diseases, including autism, Tourette's syndrome and schizophrenia.’
  2. 1.2mass noun The slowing or prevention of a process, reaction, or function by a particular substance.
     More example sentences

     • ‘With respect to this subject, the reported DNA damage and inhibition of DNA repair functions by photooxidative reactions is an interesting aspect.’
     • ‘Similar calmodulin-mediated phosphorylations lead to inhibition of glycogen synthase.’
     • ‘The alternative possibility, that the kinetic complexity of Mg-G-actin digestions arises from trypsin inhibition in these reactions, has been tested in two ways.’
     • ‘Flavonoids have diverse toxic effects including disruption of cellular respiration, inhibition of enzyme function, and interference with reproduction.’
     • ‘Gamma-tocopherol partially protects insulin-secreting cells against functional inhibition by nitric oxide.’

• 2mass noun The action of inhibiting a process.

  More example sentences

  • ‘The main characteristic of whole body withdrawal is complete inhibition of swimming.’
  • ‘It may involve simultaneous activation of some belief representations and inhibition of others.’
  • ‘There is no reason to think other large single-currency areas, such as China, pay any smaller cost in terms of overall GDP inhibition and regional disparity.’
  • ‘Even if short-term inhibition of GDP growth is on occasions necessary, growth foregone is nevertheless the very essence of social misfortune.’
  • ‘This process can lead to the addition or inhibition of cellular function.’
  • ‘The effect of the subpoena did not result in an unconstitutional inhibition of religion.’

  Synonyms

  hindrance, hampering, holding back, discouragement, obstruction, impediment, retardation

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• 3British Law
  An order or writ of prohibition, especially against dealing with a specified piece of land or property.

  More example sentences

  • ‘As the accountant or the lawyer pointed out though, there would be stamp duty inhibitions on that.’
  • ‘Now, these provisions mean that the land is less valuable than it would be if the land were conveyed without the inhibitions?’
  • ‘Yes, but the practical effect of the inhibition on the lawyer to give a communication is to inhibit the receipt of the communication by the person to whom it is directed.’