inhibition

inhibition — noun

1. A feeling of unease or shyness that makes you hold back your natural actions, wo

1.名詞B2
釋義

A feeling of unease or shyness that makes you hold back your natural actions, words, or reactions, especially in social situations.

例句

After a few drinks, Tuan's inhibitions disappeared and he joined the dance floor.

collocation: inhibitions disappear / lose inhibitions

Defne's cultural inhibitions made her hesitate before disagreeing with her aunt.

cultural / social inhibitions + hesitate before [v]-ing

同義詞
  • reserve

    Focuses on keeping feelings private; a personality trait rather than a situational fear.

  • self-consciousness

    Emphasises acute awareness of how others see you; stronger focus on embarrassment.

  • shyness

    General tendency to feel nervous around others; broader and less about a specific restraint.

  • restraint

    Can be positive self-control; does not carry the negative sense of being blocked by fear.

反義詞

文法句型

inhibition about (something / doing something)

lose / overcome / shed + one's inhibitions

have no inhibitions about (something / doing something)

用法筆記

Subject is typically a person's emotional state or social background. The plural form 'inhibitions' is very common when referring to multiple social fears or restraints. Frequently paired with verbs like 'lose', 'overcome', 'shed', or 'drop'.

常見錯誤

❌I have an inhibition to speak in public.
✅I have an inhibition about speaking in public.
💡'inhibition' takes 'about + gerund', not 'to + infinitive'.
❌He has inhibition.
✅He has inhibitions.' OR 'He feels inhibited.
💡The countable plural is preferred for social/emotional senses; the uncountable form is rarer in this context.

2. The slowing down, reduction, or halting of a natural or chemical process — for e

2.名詞C1
釋義

The slowing down, reduction, or halting of a natural or chemical process — for example, when a drug stops an enzyme from working, or when a signal in the nervous system is blocked.

例句

The new medication works through inhibition of a specific enzyme that triggers pain signals.

through inhibition of + noun phrase (technical mechanism)

Gabriela's experiment examined the inhibition of bacterial growth by a compound found in green tea.

inhibition of [process] by [agent]

同義詞
  • suppression

    Stronger sense of active force being applied to stop something; common in immunology and psychology.

  • blocking

    More general and less technical; can describe any kind of obstruction.

  • restriction

    Focuses on limiting rather than stopping; broader and less precise in scientific contexts.

  • retardation

    Technical synonym primarily used in chemistry and physiology; less common in everyday speech.

反義詞
  • activation

    The initiation or speeding up of a process.

  • stimulation

    The encouragement or enhancement of activity.

文法句型

inhibition of + (process / activity / chemical reaction)

cause / lead to + inhibition of + noun

用法筆記

Common in scientific and medical writing, where it describes a specific mechanism. Frequently found with a modifier that names what is being slowed down (e.g., 'enzyme inhibition', 'growth inhibition', 'corrosion inhibition'). The countable form ('an inhibition of...') is rare outside academic contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The inhibition of growth of the bacteria.
✅The inhibition of bacterial growth.
💡Use a compound noun or an of-phrase, not both. Avoid stacking 'of' phrases when a simpler modifier works.