If a person is inhibited, they hold themselves back. They want to speak, dance, or joke, but embarrassment or nerves sit on the brake. It is about showing yourself, not about a rule from outside. “She is inhibited about singing in public.” In psychology this is a normal word; in casual talk people more often say shy, reserved, or “she can’t let go.” The opposite mood is uninhibited: free, not holding back. Though actually, inhibited is also a science word that has nothing to do with shyness: “Growth was inhibited by the cold” means something slowed or stopped it. In stories about people, you almost always want the personality sense. Do not mix the spelling with inhabit (to live in a place) — they only look similar on the page.