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

According to documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Phypers was charged with two felony counts of injuring a spouse, and two felony counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat. —Christina Dugan Ramirez , Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025

Phypers is facing criminal charges, including two counts of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend or child's parent; and two counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat. —Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025

Ongoing immigration raids can spook heavily-immigrant communities, dissuading some kids from going to school. —Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025

Local authorities hope that Maccabi fans will be dissuaded from making the trip to Birmingham. —Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 17 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