1
Core quality
Serving to restrain, slow, suppress, or prevent a process, action, or response.
Example
The compound has an inhibitory effect on bacterial growth.
inhibitory
/ɪnˈhɪbɪtəri/ · in-HIB-ih-tor-eeadjective
Serving to restrain, slow, suppress, or prevent a process, action, or response.
Use inhibitory to express this relationship precisely: serving to restrain, slow, suppress, or prevent a process, action, or response.
What inhibitory Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Attributive or predicative use
Use this adjective before a suitable noun or after a linking verb such as be or seem.
Example
Fear can exert an inhibitory influence on exploration.
3
Analytical distinction
Choose it when this exact descriptive quality matters; a related word may overlap without conveying the same trait.
Example
Researchers measured the protein's inhibitory activity.
Use inhibitory Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The compound has an inhibitory effect on bacterial growth.
Fear can exert an inhibitory influence on exploration.
Researchers measured the protein's inhibitory activity.
Precision Matters
Inhibitory overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
inhibitory
vs.Means serving to restrain, slow, suppress, or prevent a process, action, or response.
impede
Means to prevent, obstruct, or slow progress.
inhibitory
vs.Means serving to restrain, slow, suppress, or prevent a process, action, or response.
constrain
Means limit, restrict, or hold back an action, choice, process, or development.
inhibitory
vs.Means serving to restrain, slow, suppress, or prevent a process, action, or response.
foster
Means to encourage or promote the development of something.
inhibitory
vs.Means serving to restrain, slow, suppress, or prevent a process, action, or response.
induce
Means to cause or bring about.
Test inhibitory in Context
The chemical restrains or reduces the rate of a process.
1
The chemical's ___ effect slowed cell division without stopping it completely.