inhibitor

noun

in·​hib·​i·​tor in-ˈhi-bə-tər How to pronounce inhibitor (audio)
Synonyms of inhibitornext
: one that inhibits: such as
a
: an agent that slows or interferes with a chemical action
b
: a substance that reduces or suppresses the activity of another substance (such as an enzyme)

Examples of inhibitor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Another class of diabetes drugs being explored in this regard are the SGL2 inhibitors such as dapagliflozin and empagliflozin—these help your kidneys to push glucose out of the bloodstream and into the urine. — Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026 That study also reported that the therapy lowered the risk of the cancer spreading to other sites by 59% compared to the checkpoint inhibitor alone. — Alice Park, Time, 22 Oct. 2026 Notably, most things known to have antidepressant effects increase brain plasticity—such as exercise, electroconvulsive therapy, selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors prescribed as antidepressants, and psychedelic drugs. — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 These findings helped establish PCSK9 as a drug target and contributed to the development of PCSK9 inhibitors, a new class of cholesterol-lowering medicines now used around the world. — Segun Fatumo, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inhibitor

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inhibitor was circa 1611

Phrases Containing inhibitor

Rhymes for inhibitor

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Browse Nearby Words

inhibitive
inhibitor
in high dudgeon
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Cite this Entry

“Inhibitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inhibitor. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Medical Definition

inhibitor

noun
in·​hib·​i·​tor in-ˈhib-ət-ər How to pronounce inhibitor (audio)
: one that inhibits: as
a
: an agent that slows or interferes with a chemical reaction
b
: a substance that reduces the activity of another substance (as an enzyme)
c
: a gene that checks the normal effect of another nonallelic gene when both are present

More from Merriam-Webster on inhibitor

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about inhibitor

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