Retardants are substances utilized to slow down or hinder the progress or development of something. There are several synonyms for the term retardants, including inhibitors, suppressants, inhibitors, preventers, and blockers. Inhibitors obstruct or delay the progress of a chemical or biological response. Suppressants inhibit or decrease the amount or intensity of something, such as flames, sound, or emotions. Preventers avoid an activity or process from happening in the first place, while blockers completely stop the progress or growth of something. All of these various synonyms can be used interchangeably, depending on the context and purpose of the experiment, treatment, or process.