as in restrained
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1
as in hampered
to create difficulty for the work or activity of the cold inhibited her from getting much work done that morning
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2
as in controlled
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) laws designed to inhibit the powers of the intelligence organizations
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3
as in dissuaded
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
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inhibited
Tim Parks, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026 Her last and only boyfriend, Tim, would have been too inhibited. —Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026 Participants who appeared engaged, responsive, and comfortable in the interaction, maintaining eye contact and seeming open rather than inhibited, were far more likely to be liked. —Big Think, 18 Mar. 2026 Some players appeared inhibited, none more so than winger Leon Bailey. —Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026 Callie hangs out with her more inhibited best friend, Minnie Dunn, played spectacularly well by Katherine Mallen Kupferer. —Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026 There are students who feel inhibited from expressing their Jewish or Zionist identity because of the atmosphere of the atmosphere of intimidation or harassment on college campuses. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025 Nini and Lali seemed happier without him—more relaxed, less inhibited. —Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 So contaminated was the air that water droplets could cling to pollutants, slowing evaporation; the resulting scrim of moisture inhibited vertical air movement, trapping more pollution in turn. —Scott W. Stern, The New York Review of Books, 13 Apr. 2026 Replays showed Gaudreau slashed Wallstedt’s glove and inhibited his ability to make the save. —Michael Russo, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026 How will that be taken care of and how will the ships that are there, that are not moving, start to move and be moving with a degree of confidence that they will not be inhibited by what remains of the Iranian either boats or gun emplacements along that strait? —Major Garrett, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026 This film explores the many ways that art can be destroyed or inhibited, including a NATO practice base making too much noise, the destruction of sets, and personal injury. —Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026 Even with the partial shutdown of several gates during construction that inhibited Southwest Airlines’ long-term expansion plans here, air travel was robust enough last year to compensate for that. —Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026 Interestingly, one study found that bamboo compounds inhibited the formation of furan and reduced the formation of acrylamide – the toxic chemicals produced through frying or roasting some foods. —New Atlas, 20 Jan. 2026 In addition, there was no soap at the handwashing sink and the inspector discussed with management the fact that cooked taco meat, chicken wings and grinder meat were all being cooled in large plastic tubs, which inhibited their ability to cool rapidly once placed in the cooler. —Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
School is the crucible where raw vitality encounters the collective will to impose order and control but also to bring cultural richness to lives that might otherwise remain inhibited and crude. —Tim Parks, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026 Her last and only boyfriend, Tim, would have been too inhibited. —Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026 Participants who appeared engaged, responsive, and comfortable in the interaction, maintaining eye contact and seeming open rather than inhibited, were far more likely to be liked. —Big Think, 18 Mar. 2026 Some players appeared inhibited, none more so than winger Leon Bailey. —Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026 Callie hangs out with her more inhibited best friend, Minnie Dunn, played spectacularly well by Katherine Mallen Kupferer. —Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026 There are students who feel inhibited from expressing their Jewish or Zionist identity because of the atmosphere of the atmosphere of intimidation or harassment on college campuses. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025 Nini and Lali seemed happier without him—more relaxed, less inhibited. —Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
Hurricane formation can be inhibited by strong wind shear over the Atlantic, stirred by the pattern of warmer-than-normal waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 So contaminated was the air that water droplets could cling to pollutants, slowing evaporation; the resulting scrim of moisture inhibited vertical air movement, trapping more pollution in turn. —Scott W. Stern, The New York Review of Books, 13 Apr. 2026 Replays showed Gaudreau slashed Wallstedt’s glove and inhibited his ability to make the save. —Michael Russo, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026 How will that be taken care of and how will the ships that are there, that are not moving, start to move and be moving with a degree of confidence that they will not be inhibited by what remains of the Iranian either boats or gun emplacements along that strait? —Major Garrett, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026 This film explores the many ways that art can be destroyed or inhibited, including a NATO practice base making too much noise, the destruction of sets, and personal injury. —Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026 Even with the partial shutdown of several gates during construction that inhibited Southwest Airlines’ long-term expansion plans here, air travel was robust enough last year to compensate for that. —Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026 Interestingly, one study found that bamboo compounds inhibited the formation of furan and reduced the formation of acrylamide – the toxic chemicals produced through frying or roasting some foods. —New Atlas, 20 Jan. 2026 In addition, there was no soap at the handwashing sink and the inspector discussed with management the fact that cooked taco meat, chicken wings and grinder meat were all being cooled in large plastic tubs, which inhibited their ability to cool rapidly once placed in the cooler. —Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inhibited
Adjective
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In contrast, Ionic capitals, which are more restrained, currently grace the columns at the entrance of the White House.— Kevin D. Murphy, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
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Some had pushed for a slightly more restrained proposal that would have given Democrats the upper hand in nine of the 11 House seats.— Russell Berman, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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An amusing film if not altogether convincing, Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is protracted and exceedingly hampered by imitation.— Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
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But it has been hampered by technical and staffing issues, the Financial Times reported, with passengers in 15 countries waiting up to three hours at security.— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For the first time all season, both stars controlled the game — just at different times.— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
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These images are easy to fake or are displayed on fraudulent websites controlled by the scammer.— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Those not dissuaded by this fact will also get a chance to help out a good cause.— Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2026
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She wasn’t dissuaded two years later — and mid-renovation — when a $475 million Target distribution center was announced for the small city, creating an industrial foothold in a mostly agrarian area.— Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The pop star needs a dress for a comeback show the following weekend, just days away, which Sam and her aloof assistant Hilda (Hunter Schafer, wasted) say can’t be done.— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
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The Tuscan capital’s poshest hotel stands aloof from the selfie crush around Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo, in the quiet northern reaches of central Florence.— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This shall not be impeded by the cessation of hostilities.— Yarden Segev, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
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Robert Brulle, a visiting professor at Brown University who studies fossil fuel lobbying, said ExxonMobil led efforts to discredit climate science that successfully impeded government intervention.— Alex Kuffner, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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According to prosecutors, Dunlap claimed his art collection contained works by Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh and Salvador Dali, among other famous artists.— Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
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The study got its start when co-author Brian Gootee, a geologist with the Arizona Geological Survey, noticed a resemblance between sand deposits downstream of the Grand Canyon and in the Bidahochi—both contained pink, rounded grains that seemed to have been transported by the same river.— Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Still, there’s no reason to be discouraged.— Annie Nova, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
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Today, beef inflation rapidly outpaces regular food inflation due, in part, to severe drought conditions starting in 2022 that raised feed prices and discouraged farmers from breeding cattle.— Tristan Bove, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inhibited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/inhibited. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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