deterrence

noun

Definition of deterrencenext
as in discouragement

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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 deterrence Survivors have expressed frustration and criticized the Japanese government’s support for nuclear deterrence for being insincere. — Mari Yamaguchi, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026 Survivors have expressed frustration and criticized the Japanese government’s support for nuclear deterrence. — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2026 Salman Al-Ansari, a Saudi geopolitical analyst, rejected the suggestion that Riyadh is unwilling to confront Iran, saying the Kingdom distinguishes between credible deterrence and military action without clear objectives. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026 As global competition in advanced military technology continues, the DF-17 highlights China’s growing emphasis on developing next-generation weapons capable of improving strategic deterrence and expanding its precision-strike capabilities. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deterrence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deterrence
  1. discouragement
  2. instruction
  3. suppression
  4. repression
  5. charging
  6. bidding
  7. dictation
  8. direction
Noun
  • In a paper in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, members of the WTA’s performance and health staff stressed the importance of providing support, rather than discouragement, to athletes seeking to preserve their fertility.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Despite the feeling of discouragement that can come with the rejections and even ghostings applicants face, these internships — though sometimes few and far between — still exist.
    — Cami Fateh, Vogue, 15 July 2026
Definition of discouragement
Noun
  • So, there was no real risk that a court AI system might confuse any of Elliott’s prompts as instructions from the court directing an AI model on how to read Elliott’s filings.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Two of his landmark papers, published in 2025 and 2026 in Science, point to a radical redistribution of the cells that make up the body as mammals age, and describe some of the epigenomic instructions that guide this process.
    — Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of instruction
Noun
  • But some escape initial suppression efforts and grow into major wildfires.
    — Brian Maass, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Krishnan rightly points out that actively suppressing language ought to be condemned, but that suppression and obsolescence are wholly different.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of suppression
Noun
  • For the United States, that means encouraging reform, including human rights protections, and calling off the bargain that has allowed autocratic allies to get away with grievous repression.
    — MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Numerous other features not in competition include Oscar winner Paul Schrader’s latest directing project, The Basics of Philosophy, exploring his usual concerns of guilt and repression involving older male protagonists.
    — David Bloom, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of repression
Noun
  • The charging records make no mention of Kumar having any prior criminal history.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Google said in a presentation to reporters last week that the new phones will double the previous storage size, starting at 256 gigabytes, and feature 30 hours of battery life and faster wireless charging.
    — Barbara Ortutay, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of charging
Noun
  • WhatNot’s bidding process — seconds-long auctions with more time added if customers bid — is now standard across other platforms like TikTok Shop.
    — Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Feliciano, who will be the control owner, and Jones emerged from a competitive bidding process for the team led by BDT & MSD, which was retained last November to explore a potential sale.
    — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of bidding
Noun
  • Wispr faces serious competition from the biggest names in tech—Apple, Google, Microsoft, Anthropic, and OpenAI—who’ve all been chasing dictation and voice in some form.
    — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The company envisions Vox handling dictation while MouthPad handles cursor control.
    — Jesse Watson , Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of dictation
Noun
  • Amid Russia's latest barrage, at least one drone was reported as having crossed into NATO airspace in Romania, from the direction of Moldova.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Ford took one final adventure as the legendary character under the direction of James Mangold with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of direction

Browse Nearby Words

deterred
deterrence
deterrences
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Cite this Entry

“Deterrence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deterrence. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deterrence

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about deterrence

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