inhibit

to inhibit / an inhibition

To inhibit a process is to limit something or slow it down to make it weaker. If a person feels inhibited, they’re embarrassed to do something, especially in public. So, sometimes people give the excuse of wanting to drink in order to ‘lose their inhibitions’ – in other words, to be less embarrassed or shy.  

The drug doesn’t cure cancer but it inhibits its spread.

As the course progressed people lost their inhibitions and began to discuss the issues more freely.