inhibitory

[ in-hib-i-tawr-ee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

acting to restrain, hinder, arrest, check, or prohibit an action, impulse, etc.:
These substances are strongly inhibitory for the growth of mycoplasmas and some protozoa.
Children with weak inhibitory and attentional resources may have great difficulty resisting the influence of marketing.

First recorded in 1490–1500; inhibit ( def ) + -ory ¹( def )

To prevent intruders or extruders from withdrawing his mind from the text, he exercises the Inhibitory function of the Attention.

My quality is sensuous and ruled by warm impulses; hers was discriminating and essentially inhibitory.

In such cases the preventive (inhibitory) influence of certain ingoing impulses is but too obvious.

This direct inhibitory effect of the unequal distribution of wealth is seconded by an indirect effect tending to the same result.

Nor must it be thought that the inhibitory faculty can act only in slowing the heart.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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