deter

verb

de·​ter di-ˈtər How to pronounce deter (audio)
dē-
deterred; deterring

transitive verb

1
: to turn aside, discourage, or prevent from acting
she would not be deterred by threats
2
: inhibit
painting to deter rust
determent noun
deterrability noun
deterrable adjective

Did you know?

The Fearful History of Deter

The word deter is rooted in fear. It was borrowed into English around the mid-16th century from the Latin verb deterrēre, which in turn was formed by combining de-, meaning "from" or "away," with terrēre, meaning "to frighten." Terrēre is also the source of terror, terrible, and even terrific, which originally meant "very bad" or "frightful." These days, you may be deterred by something that frightens you or by something that simply causes you to think about the difficult or unpleasant consequences of continuing. The word can also mean "to inhibit," as in "painting to deter rust."

Examples of deter in a Sentence

Rick Wagoner, CEO of General Motors, the automaker in most imminent danger of failure, gave lawmakers three reasons Chapter 11 isn't an option. First, the special financing that usually tides companies over through reorganization is so scarce right now that GM might not be able to get enough to keep functioning. Second, the stigma of bankruptcy would deter consumers from buying GM cars. Third, GM is already in the midst of a dramatic reorganization that will pave the way to a profitable future. Justin Fox, Time, 1 Dec. 2008
For some species that deter attack by being poisonous, the goal of their physical appearance is not to hide or confuse other forest creatures, but to be noticed. Candice Millard, The River of Doubt, 2005
Originally developed to monitor and track cattle, radio frequency identification (RFID) is now the cutting edge in merchandise, parcel, and baggage tracking. It's debuting in stores and libraries across the country as the most effective way to track inventory and deter theft without making consumers feel like they're in a war zone. Athan Bezaaitis, PC Magazine, January 2000
None of these tribulations deterred spectators in the least. The ancient Olympics remained immensely popular, the greatest recurring event in antiquity, from 776 b.c. (when Hercules himself was said to have founded them) until a ban on pagan festivals by Christian emperor Theodosius I in the fourth century a.d. ensured their demise—a spectacular thousand-year run. Leigh Steinberg, Civilization, June/July 2000
Some potential buyers will be deterred by the price. Painting the metal will deter rust.
Recent Examples on the Web Hurricane season in the fall and the high cost of hotels in the winter deter visitors during these months. Cynthia J Drake, Southern Living, 19 Mar. 2024 The Pentagon began rushing military assets to the region almost immediately after Oct. 7, initially to deter Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Iran’s most powerful proxy, from opening a new front against Israel, but also to avert a wider war. Missy Ryan, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 The family also enlisted help from their 16-year-old daughter, who rode on Kevin’s back to deter him from trying to escape during the mile-long trip. Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 17 Mar. 2024 Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and a slew of other local high-ranking officials are required to disclose information every year intended to deter misconduct and engender public trust. Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2024 Such distinctions, however, did not deter Johnson from seizing more chances to endear himself to Trump. David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024 Higher taxes deter entrepreneurship and innovation by reducing the financial rewards for taking risks and starting new ventures. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024 Police can deter crime by increasing the perception that criminals will be caught. Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024 Another factor is whether the penalties will actually do enough to deter companies from breaking the rules. Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin deterrēre, from de- + terrēre to frighten — more at terror

First Known Use

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deter was circa 1547

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Dictionary Entries Near deter

Cite this Entry

“Deter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deter. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deter

verb
de·​ter di-ˈtər How to pronounce deter (audio)
deterred; deterring
1
: to turn aside, discourage, or prevent from acting
wasn't deterred by the threats
2
: inhibit sense 2
painting to deter rust
determent noun

More from Merriam-Webster on deter

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