If you say that someone is inhibited, you mean they find it difficult to behave naturally and show their feelings, and that you think this is a bad thing.
[disapproval]
We are rather inhibited about touching each other. [+ about]
Synonyms: shy, reserved, guarded, withdrawn More Synonyms of inhibited
inhibited in British English
(ɪnˈhɪbɪtɪd)
adjective
too embarrassed or not confident enough to do something
The English are very inhibited.
Men are more inhibited about touching each other than women.
Examples of 'inhibited' in a sentence
inhibited
But it was impossible not to be inhibited by the inevitable presence of Mrs Parbold.
Hilton, John Buxton THE INNOCENTS AT HOME (A SUPERINTENDENT KENWORTHY NOVEL) (2001)
The chair frame dug into his thighs and the arms inhibited note-taking.
Moore, Margaret FORESTS OF THE NIGHT (2001)
In other languages
inhibited
British English: inhibited ADJECTIVE
If you say that someone is inhibited, you mean they find it difficult to behave naturally and show their feelings.
We are rather inhibited about touching each other.
American English: inhibited
Brazilian Portuguese: inibido
Chinese: 拘谨的
European Spanish: cohibido
French: inhibé
German: gehemmt
Italian: inibito
Japanese: >抑制された行動・感情が
Korean: 억눌린
European Portuguese: inibido
Latin American Spanish: cohibido
Chinese translation of 'inhibited'
inhibited
(ɪnˈhɪbɪtɪd)
adj
拘束的 (jūshù de)
inhibit
(ɪnˈhɪbɪt)
vt
(= slow down, stop) 阻止 (zǔzhǐ)
to inhibit sb from doing sth (= discourage) 阻止某人做某事 (zǔzhǐ mǒurén zuò mǒushì)
(adjective)
I feel slightly less inhibited about speaking out now.
Synonyms
shy
He is painfully shy when it comes to talking to new people.
reserved
He was unemotional and reserved.
guarded
The boy gave him a guarded reply.
withdrawn
Her husband had become withdrawn and moody.
frustrated
subdued
repressed
She was repressed, highly strung, and disorganized.
constrained
I realised, from his constrained smile, that he resented what I was saying.
self-conscious
reticent
uptight (informal)
Opposites
free
,
natural
,
relaxed
,
outgoing
,
spontaneous
,
uninhibited
,
unreserved
Additional synonyms
in the sense of constrained
Definition
embarrassed or unnatural
I realised, from his constrained smile, that he resented what I was saying.
Synonyms
forced,
reserved,
guarded,
inhibited,
subdued,
unnatural,
reticent
in the sense of guarded
Definition
cautious and avoiding any commitment
The boy gave him a guarded reply.
Synonyms
cautious,
reserved,
careful,
suspicious,
restrained,
wary,
discreet,
prudent,
reticent,
circumspect,
cagey (informal),
leery (slang),
noncommittal
in the sense of repressed
She was repressed, highly strung, and disorganized.