inhibition

A worried or shy feeling that stops you doing something you want to do.

• She danced without inhibition.
• He slowly lost his inhibitions.
• Do you have any inhibitions about singing in public?

How to use it: inhibitions about doing something (He has inhibitions about speaking in public.)

Similar words: restraint, self-consciousness

Common phrases: social inhibition, lack of inhibition

The stopping or slowing of a process, especially one in the body or involving chemicals.

• The chemical caused inhibition of growth.
• We measured enzyme inhibition in the laboratory.
• Inhibition of this reaction reduces the amount of heat produced.

How to use it: inhibition of something (The drug causes inhibition of cell growth.)

Similar words: suppression, blocking

Opposites: stimulation

Common phrases: enzyme inhibition, growth inhibition, inhibition of activity