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

The jury in March found O’Connor guilty of crimes including child endangerment and furnishing alcohol to a minor, and dissuading a witness. —Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 26 May 2026

But if a dentist dissuades you from getting one, Nguyen said, that’s another red flag. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026

Some community activists spent recent weeks trying to dissuade Wasserman Schultz, who is white and Jewish, from running there. —Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 22 May 2026

This change is well underway, and the very reasonable objections to this path will not dissuade the company. —ArsTechnica, 20 May 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