inhibit
Verb
Verb Forms: inhibited, inhibiting, inhibits
- To restrain, hinder, or prevent an action or process.
- to put down by force or authority
- limit the range or extent of
- "Contact between the young was inhibited by strict social customs"
- limit, block, or decrease the action or function of
- "inhibit the action of the enzyme"
- "inhibit the rate of a chemical reaction"
- control and refrain from showing; of emotions, desires, impulses, or behavior
- To hold in or hold back; to keep in check; restrain.
- To recuse.
Examples
- His lack of vowels seemed to inhibit any long word plays in Scrabble.
- inhibit someone's education
- inhibit someone's freedom
Origin / Etymology
From Latin inhibitus, perfect passive participle of inhibeō (“I hold in, check, restrain”), from in (“in, at, on”), + habeō (“I have, hold, keep”).
Synonyms
bottle up, conquer, curb, stamp down, subdue, suppress, behedge, blunt, delay, difficult, diminish, forestay, forslow, frustrate, get in the way, hamper, handicap, hinder, hold up, hurt, impair, impede, incommode, interfere, intervene, lessen, let, mar, obstruct, overslaugh, preclude, prevene, prevent, prohibit, reduce, restrict, retard, slow down, stay, thwart, thwarten, umbeset, undermine, weaken, worsen
Scrabble Score: 12
inhibit: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordinhibit: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
inhibit: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary