inhibit
/ɪnˈhɪb.ɪt/(verb)
AWL Sublist 6CEFR C1IELTS Band 7.0 - 9.0
Academic Definition
To hinder, restrain, or prevent an action or process; to make someone feel self-conscious and unable to act naturally.
Key Academic Collocations
Click to copyWord Family & Derivatives
inhibitinhibitioninhibitionsinhibitoryinhibited
Lexical Alternatives (Synonyms)
hinderimpedestiflesuppressconstrain
Academic Sample Sentences in Context
"Excessive bureaucratic red tape and punitive business licensing fees severely inhibit entrepreneurial small-business innovation."
"Laboratory trials proved that the newly synthesized organic compound successfully inhibits bacterial cell replication."
"A chronic fear of making grammatical errors can inhibit adult second-language learners from speaking fluently."
IELTS Examiner Scoring Strategy (Lexical Resource)
High-level C1 verb: 'severely inhibits economic growth' (much stronger and more academic than 'stops growth').