as in to dissuade
to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action
we tried to deter him from his crazy scheme, but to no avail
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Recent Examples of deter
Still, experts said even an incremental rise to 6% could deter some buyers.
—
Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
They are also deterred by the scent of eucalyptus, marigold, geranium, and spearmint plants.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026
The Strait of Hormuz is nearly empty as threats from Iran deter oil and gas tankers from passing through the key choke point.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
In addition to deterring unwanted visitors or critters, these flood lights have also become popular among pet owners for another purpose.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deter
Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
They are also deterred by the scent of eucalyptus, marigold, geranium, and spearmint plants.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026
The Strait of Hormuz is nearly empty as threats from Iran deter oil and gas tankers from passing through the key choke point.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
In addition to deterring unwanted visitors or critters, these flood lights have also become popular among pet owners for another purpose.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deter
Verb
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She wasn’t dissuaded two years later — and mid-renovation — when a $475 million Target distribution center was announced for the small city, creating an industrial foothold in a mostly agrarian area.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
6 Mar. 2026
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Trump could have dissuaded the Israelis once again.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, the oil and gas industry has opposed the environmental groups’ stance, arguing that the current proposal would discourage an already declining refinery sector from continuing to operate in California, advocating for more flexible rules on the cap.—
Chaewon Chung
March 9,
Sacbee.com,
9 Mar. 2026
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If using fencing, an electric wire at the top and bottom of fencing can discourage coyotes but won’t harm them, says Owen.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deter. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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