inhibiting
adj.adj. stopping something from happening or slowing it down. You use this to describe things that make it harder for someone to act naturally or for a process to finish.
adj. restraining, hindering, or preventing an action or process. Often describes factors that cause a person to feel self-conscious or unable to act in a relaxed and natural way.
The cold weather is inhibiting the growth of the plants.
Strict rules in the office can have an inhibiting effect on the team's creativity and willingness to share new ideas.
The presence of several high-ranking executives proved inhibiting for the junior staff, who felt unable to speak candidly about the project's systemic failures.
Often used as a participial adjective before a noun or following a linking verb like 'feel' or 'seem'.