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

Voting rights advocates argue that requirements to present birth certificates or passports in order to register to vote is intended to make voting more difficult, to dissuade some people from voting at all. — Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2026

That, however, did little to dissuade investors from keeping expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike elevated. — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026

The specter of the lockout may dissuade owner Bob Nutting from making major changes this offseason. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

One couple from New Jersey pointed out that with $40 parking, a $23 Honey Deuce each, plus food, the day already cost them more than $100 combined, and having to pay for entry in addition would dissuade them from coming at all. — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 28 Aug. 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