uninhibited
Americanadjective
-
not inhibited or restricted.
uninhibited freedom to act.
-
not restrained by social convention or usage; unconstrained.
an uninhibited discussion of the causes of divorce.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of uninhibited
Explanation
The prefix "un-" means "not," making the meaning of uninhibited "not inhibited, not restrained or holding back." Someone who is uninhibited is not afraid to act however he or she wishes. Uninhibited is the opposite of inhibited, from the Latin inhibēre, "to prohibit or hinder." In the late 19th century the word took on a new importance to psychologists, describing a person not afraid to express emotions, even in public. The following quote from writer Norman Podhoretz gives a contextual definition: "Creativity represents a miraculous coming together of the uninhibited energy of the child with its apparent opposite and enemy, the sense of order imposed on the disciplined adult intelligence."
Vocabulary lists containing uninhibited
100 SAT Words Beginning with "U"
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"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 7
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We Are Not Free
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Neil's second and Rangers' third was a peach, a sign of confident uninhibited players enjoying themselves.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
When Tiedemann posted clips on social media of her whipping up seafood pastas and searing rib-eyes, she became an overnight sensation, as much for her bawdy, uninhibited personality as her culinary prowess.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
“There’s a nonjudgmental safe space that we’ve created in ‘Bluey’s Best Day Ever!’ that invites everyone to feel uninhibited and the joy of playfulness,” Tubert says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 22, 2026
Just as texture is now the telltale sign of a real photograph, finally giving pores and wrinkles the promotion to a customer-facing role they deserve, linguistic variety and uninhibited honesty will become certificates of authenticity.
From Slate ● Jan. 7, 2026
It was almost as if he thought she was still in there and would come running out one day, filling the house with her wild, uninhibited giggling.
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
