deterrent
adjective
de·ter·rent
di-ˈtər-ənt 
-ˈter-;
-ˈtə-rənt,
-ˈte-;
dē-
1
: serving to discourage, prevent, or inhibit : serving to deter
The ads had a deterrent effect on youth smoking.
2
: relating to deterrence
a deterrent view of punishment
deterrent
noun
deterrently
adverb
Examples of deterrent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Experts say these outcomes have had a deterrent effect.
—
David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
This isn’t the only deterrent job creators confront.
—David Flemming, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2024
Similar to deterrent polish, the taste of hand lotion isn’t any better.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 22 May 2024
Nuclear attack could still disrupt a grid, to say nothing of the resulting concurrent deaths, but Chaudhary sees base resilience as its own kind of further deterrent action against such threats.
—Kelsey D. Atherton, Popular Science, 13 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for deterrent 
David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
This isn’t the only deterrent job creators confront.
—David Flemming, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2024
Similar to deterrent polish, the taste of hand lotion isn’t any better.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 22 May 2024
Nuclear attack could still disrupt a grid, to say nothing of the resulting concurrent deaths, but Chaudhary sees base resilience as its own kind of further deterrent action against such threats.
—Kelsey D. Atherton, Popular Science, 13 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for deterrent
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deterrent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near deterrent
Cite this Entry
“Deterrent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deterrent. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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