as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the homeowner put up a fence around his garden as a deterrent for animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in preventive
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deterrent
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026
Parking so that your car is facing a wall is a good deterrent, but that’s not always possible.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 5 Feb. 2026
David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
But the real value of such a treaty is its deterrent effect, discouraging countries from developing such weapons.
—Liyam Chitayat, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deterrent
Noun
Own a Cat Though this method may not be practical for everyone, owning a cat is a strong natural deterrent for mice.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026
Parking so that your car is facing a wall is a good deterrent, but that’s not always possible.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Reuters reported last week that the fine would be modest, marking a change in Ribera’s approach with her predecessor’s deterrent hefty fines.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
But the real value of such a treaty is its deterrent effect, discouraging countries from developing such weapons.
—Liyam Chitayat, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deterrent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deterrent
Noun
-
In Waterfield’s view, the single biggest obstacle for genetic genealogy is the cost of lab work and rising upload fees associated with the DNA databases relied upon by investigators.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Anything that was anti-Jewish—a story about exclusion, an obstacle that hadn’t come down, a disapproving enumeration of supposedly Jewish traits—was possibly more fascinating.—
Nicholas Lemann,
New Yorker,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In fact, higher costs ultimately reduce access as patients delay, skip medications or avoid preventive care.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
-
However, preventive measures may reduce your risk of getting these marks.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Florida bills would do much of that work by forcing married and divorced women to navigate expensive bureaucratic hurdles to match their maiden and married names.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Had there been hurdles to that process before this latest round of negotiations happened?—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Decades of levees and shipping channels destroyed protective ecosystems, leaving the region vulnerable to hurricanes; the closure of a key canal is enabling restoration.—
Melina Walling,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Schedule time with a challenging book, as fresh ideas can soothe moods and moderate your protective instincts.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Her decision to launch skincare aligns with traditional K-beauty regimes, which prioritizes long-term skin health, hydration and barrier protection over covering imperfections with makeup.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Much of that natural barrier was lost after Hurricane Katrina, which killed over 1,000 people and caused over $100 billion in damage in 2005.—
Melina Walling,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In early November, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died by suicide after police pursued him in a chase involving speeds of more than 145 mph.—
Mike Wilson,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Employing a hybrid back line consisting of fullback Sergi Palencia and a trio of center backs – Ryan Porteous, Nkosi Tafari and Eddie Segura – Dos Santos described the defensive effort as exceptional.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Its version, Satellite SOS, works similarly, and requires a clear view of the sky with as little obstruction as possible.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
-
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 10 years in prison for each trade secret charge and up to 20 years for obstruction of justice, along with fines of up to $250,000 per count.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The parents or hosts bearing a disproportionate share of the expense is not surprising, and should not be a cause of embarrassment as long as proper gratitude is expressed.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The parents/hosts bearing a disproportionate share of the expense is not surprising, and should not be a cause of embarrassment as long as proper gratitude is expressed.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deterrent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deterrent. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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