Standard Lemma guide

inhibitory

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N HH IH1 B AH0 T AO2 R IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

That inhibits.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • the inhibitory action of the pneumogastric on the respiratory center

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Of, or relating to an inhibitor.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

restrictive of action

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a repressive regime
  • an overly strict and inhibiting discipline

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: repressive, repressing

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From late 15th century (early modern English). Formed as inhibit + -ory or adapted from Medieval Latin inhibitōrius and Middle French inhibitoire.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: спиращ (spirašt) — that inhibits
  • Bulgarian: препятстващ (prepjatstvašt) — that inhibits
  • Catalan: inhibitori — that inhibits
  • Catalan: inhibidor — that inhibits
  • French: inhibiteur — that inhibits
  • French: inhibitoire — that inhibits
  • Hungarian: tiltó — that inhibits
  • Hungarian: gátló — that inhibits
  • Hungarian: akadályozó — that inhibits
  • Irish: coiscthe — that inhibits
  • Spanish: inhibidor — that inhibits
  • Swedish: hämmande — that inhibits
  • Swedish: inhibitorisk — that inhibits
  • Catalan: inhibitori — of, or relating to an inhibitor
  • French: inhibiteur — of, or relating to an inhibitor
  • Hungarian: gátló — of, or relating to an inhibitor
  • Spanish: inhibitorio — of, or relating to an inhibitor
Real reading context

inhibitory in complete knowledge articles