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"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 7
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
We Are Not Free
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Psychopathy is defined in the study as a “Temperamental and Uninhibited Region.”
From New York Times • Jun. 16, 2018
Uninhibited growth can lead to new problems for cities, as human development puts new demands on the environment.
From Washington Post
Modern Architecture Uninhibited ... an art in which anything and everything goes�so long as it's modern ...
From Time Magazine Archive
Uninhibited by tact, Kennedy often had as many enemies on the force and in city hall as he had behind bars.
From Time Magazine Archive
Uninhibited, impolite, impatient, the New Thing often seems intended only to disturb.
From Time Magazine Archive
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.
