SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
inhibit
verb
To restrain, hinder, or reduce an action or process.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Restrain or hinder
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topInhibit can reduce an action without preventing it completely; block is often stronger.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See inhibit in use
Fear of ridicule can inhibit a new member's willingness to speak.
Limited room access could inhibit practice even for members who remained eager to play.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license