INHIBIT

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does inhibit mean? 

• INHIBIT (verb)
  The verb INHIBIT has 2 senses:

1. to put down by force or authority
2. limit the range or extent of

  Familiarity information: INHIBIT used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INHIBIT (verb)

Meaning:

To put down by force or authority

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

conquer; inhibit; stamp down; suppress; curb; subdue

Context examples:

suppress a nascent uprising / stamp down on littering / conquer one's desires

Hypernyms (to "inhibit" is one way to...):

check; contain; control; curb; hold; hold in; moderate (lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "inhibit"):

blink; blink away; wink (force to go away by blinking)

dampen; stifle (smother or suppress)

choke back; choke down; choke off (suppress)

hush; hush up; quieten; shut up; silence; still (cause to be quiet or not talk)

burke (get rid of, silence, or suppress)

silence (keep from expression, for example by threats or pressure)

quell; quench; squelch (suppress or crush completely)

muffle; repress; smother; stifle; strangle (conceal or hide)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Meaning:

Limit the range or extent of

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

Contact between the young was inhibited by strict social customs

Hypernyms (to "inhibit" is one way to...):

bound; confine; limit; restrain; restrict; throttle; trammel (place limits on (extent or access))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something