as in to dissuade
to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action
we tried to deter him from his crazy scheme, but to no avail
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Recent Examples of deter
The school was built in phases over the years, though this didn’t deter Marwick’s group.
—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
Experts say the caffeine and scent levels in used grounds are too weak to deter bugs effectively.
—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
24 June 2026
Yet the Tedeschi Trucks Band, like Bonnaroo, will not be deterred.
—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2026
Better lighting and open parks do more to deter flash mobs than jail.
—
Marc A. Levin,
Washington Post,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for deter
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
Experts say the caffeine and scent levels in used grounds are too weak to deter bugs effectively.
—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
24 June 2026
Yet the Tedeschi Trucks Band, like Bonnaroo, will not be deterred.
—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2026
Better lighting and open parks do more to deter flash mobs than jail.
—
Marc A. Levin,
Washington Post,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for deter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deter
Verb
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The committee attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to dissuade the auditor from running.
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Pablo Andres Aguilera Mora, 46, is being held in the Santa Clara County Main Jail for criminal charges including murder, assault with a deadly weapon, dissuading a witness and contempt of court, according to court records.
Verb
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In 2011, the bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission determined that the crisis was triggered in part by Greenspan’s failure to discourage trade in securities backed by subprime mortgage loans amid an unsustainable housing boom and his promotion of financial industry deregulation.
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The color yellow attracts yellow jackets and other pollinating insects, so the all-red design increases your chances of attracting hummingbirds and discourages bees and wasps from staking claim over the sweet nectar.
Cite this Entry
“Deter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deter. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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