inhibitors

Agents that suppress

Inhibitors are things that inhibit—that slow, block, or prevent a process.

The term appears most often in scientific and medical contexts: enzyme inhibitors block biochemical reactions, ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure, and rust inhibitors protect metal surfaces.

The drug acts as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

Outside technical use, inhibitors are simply factors that hold something back: Fear of failure can be a powerful inhibitor of creativity.

pharmaceutical

antagonists

Opponents in conflict

blockersThings that obstruct
suppressantsAgents that reduce activity
drugsTherapeutic chemical compounds

pharmaceuticals · enzymes · protease · kinase · ACE · MAOIs · SSRIs · statins · antivirals · anticoagulants

obstruction

barrier

Obstruction preventing passage

impedimentThing that obstructs progress
hindranceBarrier to progress
obstacleSomething blocking the way

blockade · bottleneck · roadblock · constraint · restriction · limitation · deterrent · encumbrance · interference · obstruction

psychological

restraint

Control over impulses

self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
moderationAvoidance of excess
willpowerMental strength resisting impulse

discipline · temperance · prudence · caution · forbearance · repression · reserve · hesitation · reluctance · apprehension

regulatory

regulation

Official rules governing conduct

controlAuthority to direct
moderationAvoidance of excess
governanceHow authority is exercised

oversight · monitoring · management · coordination · calibration · stabilization · feedback · adjustment · homeostasis

suppression

silencing

Stopping noise or dissent

quellingForcibly ending resistance
stiflingOppressively hot and close
smotheringDepriving of air

repression · dampening · throttling · squelching · muffling · subduing · curtailing · neutralization · attenuation · downregulation

inhibitors

antagonists

barrier

restraint

regulation

silencing

inhibitors

Opposites

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