How to Pronounce Disinhibition
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Disinhibition Pronunciation
dis-in-hib-ISH-un
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
dis
in
hib
ISH
stress here
un
5 syllables
What is Disinhibition?
The loss of normal restraint or control over one's behavior, emotions, or impulses, often resulting in socially inappropriate or reckless actions. It can be a symptom of brain injury, dementia, substance use, or psychiatric disorders.
Questions About Disinhibition
How do you pronounce 'disinhibition'?
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Say it like this: dis-in-hib-ISH-un. The stress falls on the third syllable, which is 'hib'—so you emphasize that part when you say the word out loud. The 'dis' at the start sounds like the word 'miss' without the 'm'.
What is the stressed syllable in 'disinhibition'?
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The stressed syllable is 'hib,' which is the third part of the word. A common mistake is putting the stress on 'in' instead, but that's incorrect—remember to punch 'hib' when you say it.
How many syllables does 'disinhibition' have?
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It has five syllables: dis-in-hib-i-tion. Breaking it into chunks like this makes it much easier to say than trying to rush through the whole word at once.
What do the word parts in 'disinhibition' mean?
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The word comes from three parts: 'dis-' means 'not' or 'the opposite of,' 'in-' means 'in,' and 'inhibition' means 'holding back' or 'restraint.' So 'disinhibition' literally means 'the opposite of holding back.'
What is a simple way to explain what 'disinhibition' means?
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Disinhibition means losing the normal brakes on your behavior or emotions—doing or saying things you would normally hold back on. It's like your filter gets turned off.
What is a related word that shares the same root as 'disinhibition'?
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'Inhibition' is the related word—it means the act of holding back or restraining yourself. 'Disinhibition' is basically the opposite: when that holding back stops happening.
Can you use 'disinhibition' in a sentence?
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Here's an example: 'The doctor noticed signs of disinhibition when the patient began making inappropriate comments during the exam.' This shows the word being used to describe a loss of normal social restraint.
What's a common mispronunciation of 'disinhibition'?
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Many people accidentally stress the 'in' syllable instead of the 'hib,' saying dis-IN-hib-i-tion. The correct way is to emphasize 'hib': dis-in-HIB-i-tion.

