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   In·hi·bi·tion

   /ˌinəˈbiSH(ə)n/

   

   noun

   • 1. a 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" Similar shynessreticenceself-consciousnessreservediffidencebashfulnesscoynessembarrassmentuneasewarinessreluctancediscomforthesitancehesitancyapprehensionnervesnervousnessinsecuritylack of confidenceunassertivenesstimiditytimorousnessrepressionrestraintconstraintreservationmental blockpsychological blockinformal:hang-up
   • ▪ a voluntary or involuntary restraint on the direct expression of an instinct.
   • ▪ the action of inhibiting, restricting, or hindering a process. Similar hindrancehamperingholding backdiscouragementobstructionimpedimentretardationcurbingcheckingsuppressionrepressionrestrictionrestraintconstraintbridlingshacklingfetteringcrampingbalkingfrustrationarreststiflingsmotheringpreventionblockingthwartingfoilingquashingstoppinghaltingputting an end/stop tonipping in the budcurbcheckbarbarrierstraitjacketOpposite encouragementpromotion
   • ▪ the slowing or prevention of a process, reaction, or function by a particular substance.

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘forbidding, a prohibition’): from Latin inhibitio(n-), from the verb inhibere (see inhibit).

   Scrabble Points: 15

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