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
It is believed that Cincinnati wants at least one young impact player and a draft pick for him, which could deter a number of teams from pulling the trigger on a potential trade.
—
Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
But Kyiv and its European allies see hope in Washington’s proposal to offer Ukraine security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Companion plants can deter pests, improve soil, provide shade, suppress weeds, and attract insects that help each other grow.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2025
Australia is in the midst of a major military restructure, bolstering its navy with long-range firepower in an effort to deter China.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deter
Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
But Kyiv and its European allies see hope in Washington’s proposal to offer Ukraine security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Companion plants can deter pests, improve soil, provide shade, suppress weeds, and attract insects that help each other grow.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2025
Australia is in the midst of a major military restructure, bolstering its navy with long-range firepower in an effort to deter China.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deter
Verb
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In the velvety elegance of Paris, Jacques (Guillaume des Forêts, nearly a Timothée Chalamet look-alike), a floppy-haired painter, dissuades Marthe (Isabelle Weingarten) from jumping into the Seine when her fiancé abandons her.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
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Of those who opt to climb, would they be dissuaded by a new coat of paint?—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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If things don’t go according to plan — like if your creative spark or romantic date night gets hit with a wild card — don’t be discouraged.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
23 Aug. 2025
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In high-growth markets, the outdated exemption can discourage homeowners from selling, impacting market fluidity.—
Collyn Wainwright,
The Tennessean,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deter. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.
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