'libido-inhibiting' is a compound formed from 'libido' and 'inhibit'. 'libido' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'libido, libidinis', where it meant 'desire, lust'. 'inhibit' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'inhibēre', where 'in-' meant 'not/against' and 'habēre' meant 'to hold'.

'libido' entered English via New Latin and later psychoanalytic usage (notably Freud); 'inhibit' came into English from Latin through Old French and Middle English ('inhibiten' / 'inhibire'). The modern hyphenated compound 'libido-inhibiting' was formed in modern English to describe agents or effects that suppress libido.

Initially, 'libido' meant 'desire' or 'lust' and 'inhibit' meant 'to restrain/hold back'; over time the compound came to be used specifically for 'reducing sexual desire' (the current meaning).