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

• 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

But some advocates say his posture is hardly unique among previous presidents, and they won’t be dissuaded from seeking to build consensus for tribal goals. —Terry Tang, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2025

In this scenario, the growing economic uncertainty surrounding the government shutdown is dissuading more buyers from purchasing properties this year. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025

News of Duke's love for stealing items to bring to bed didn't dissuade Hout from adopting him. —Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025

Though Lessig worries about uncertainty over what’s protected dissuading employees from coming forward. —Harry Booth, Time, 8 Oct. 2025

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