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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deter Prices didn’t deter fans and gamers who waited in long lines at stores across the country. Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC news, 5 June 2025 Ward's defense in left field is league average at best, but that shouldn't deter general manager A.J. Preller and the Padres. Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025 The advisory should not deter travelers from going to Italy this summer. Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 3 June 2025 However, a slew of challenges arise, deterring their relationship — and hilarity ensues. Emily Burns, Footwear News, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for deter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deter
Verb
  • In the series, Joss’ Ken dissuades Poehler’s peppy protagonist Leslie Knope from hosting a local festival on sacred burial grounds.
    Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
  • Still, if a rash can dissuade someone from vaccination, so, too, can misinformation, or an official’s decision to stop recommending a shot.
    Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • That guidance similarly discourages blanket exclusions and encourages individualized assessments that consider the nature of the offense, its recency, and its relevance to the job.
    Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • State wildlife biologists and Parks and Wildlife officials said killing the wolf is meant to change pack behavior by discouraging the predators from targeting livestock.
    Katie Langford, Denver Post, 30 May 2025

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“Deter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deter. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.

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