inhibit | Definition of inhibit

1 to create difficulty for the work or activity of

the cold inhibited her from getting much work done that morning

Synonyms of inhibit

clog, cramp, embarrass, encumber, fetter, hamper, handcuff, handicap, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, hold up, impede, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, short-circuit, stymie, tie up, trammel

Words Related to inhibit

balk, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain

bind, chain, halter, leash, tether, tie

arrest, brake, delay, retain, retard

barricade, block, blockade, roadblock

bog (down), mire

choke, smother, stifle, strangle, suffocate

baffle, foil, frustrate, stump, thwart

derail, disrupt, sabotage

muzzle, repress, suppress

confine, hedge (in), hem (in)

Phrases Synonymous with inhibit

cramp one's style, give a hard time

Near Antonyms of inhibit

clear, make way, open, unclog, unplug, unstop

free, liberate, release, untie

loosen, smooth

encourage, further, promote

Antonyms of inhibit

aid, assist, facilitate, help

2 to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)

laws designed to inhibit the powers of the intelligence organizations

Synonyms of inhibit

bridle, check, constrain, contain, control, curb, govern, hold, keep, measure, pull in, regulate, rein (in), restrain, rule, tame

Words Related to inhibit

bottle (up), choke (back), hold back, mince, muffle, pocket, repress, sink, smother, squelch, stifle, strangle, suppress, swallow

arrest, interrupt, stop

block, hamper, handcuff, hinder, impede, obstruct

gag, muzzle, silence

Near Antonyms of inhibit

liberate, loose, loosen, unleash

air, express, take out, vent

Antonyms of inhibit

lose

3 to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action

a fundamental sense of propriety should have inhibited you from making a drunken spectacle of yourself

Synonyms of inhibit

deter, discourage, dissuade

Words Related to inhibit

divert

unsell

repel

Near Antonyms of inhibit

egg (on), exhort, goad, prod, urge

impel, induce, prompt

Antonyms of inhibit

encourage, persuade

Synonyms and Antonyms of inhibit

WORD OF THE DAY

jeopardize