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 of dissuade

• discourage
• deter

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

Lithgow has said her views didn’t dissuade him from taking the role. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 8 Feb. 2026

At the end of Biden’s term, the government put in policies to dissuade unauthorized border crossings. —William Tong, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026

Analysts say Beijing may be weighing trade, investment and other measures to respond – and dissuade other countries in the region from taking similar steps. —Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026

What To Do Instead Hopefully by now you’ve been dissuaded from ever using the self-cleaning function again. —Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026

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

Rhymes for dissuade

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

dissuade

verb

dis·​suade dis-ˈwād 

dissuaded; dissuading

: to persuade or advise not to do something