Meaning & use
inhibition
A feeling of self-consciousness that prevents someone from acting naturally or freely.
See it in a sentence
A few drinks loosened his inhibitions, and he finally asked her to dance.
Children often lose their inhibitions when performing in front of a supportive audience.
A note on using this word
Often used in the plural, 'lose one's inhibitions,' to describe becoming less self-conscious or restrained.
Words with a similar meaning
reticencerestraint
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
In science, the restraining or blocking of a process, reaction, or nerve impulse.
The drug works through the inhibition of a specific enzyme in the liver.
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