dissuade

verb

dis·​suade di-ˈswād 

dissuaded; dissuading

transitive verb

1

a

: to advise (a person) against something

… dissuading us from base thoughts, low ends, ignoble gains …

—A. T. Quiller-Couch

b

archaic : to advise against (an action)

2

: to turn from something by persuasion

unable to dissuade him from going

dissuader noun

Synonyms

• deter
• discourage
• inhibit

Examples of dissuade in a Sentence

Our warnings did not dissuade them.

tried to dissuade her from her intention to drop out of college

Recent Examples on the Web

Scanning membership cards at the entrance dissuades shoplifters, but also enables staff to track exactly how many shoppers are present (the typical store gets 350 visitors per hour). —Phil Wahba, Fortune, 28 May 2024

Penelope warns her that visiting Theo is dangerous to her reputation, which does not dissuade Eloise from continuing to meet him. —Kari Sonde, TIME, 14 May 2024

While some will still be trying to wrap their head around the new sci-fi slant to the series, Farrell wasn’t dissuaded by it –– if only for the chance to celebrate Los Angeles. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 3 May 2024

However, that challenge doesn’t dissuade the distance running tandem, priding themselves on being dedicated. —Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French dissuader, from Latin dissuadēre, from dis- + suadēre to urge — more at sweet

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

dissuade

verb

dis·​suade dis-ˈwād 

dissuaded; dissuading

: to persuade or advise not to do something