as in obstacles
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the homeowner put up a fence around his garden as a deterrent for animals
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Recent Examples of deterrents
Use Natural Deterrents From Your Pantry To keep the rodents out of your yard for long periods, Schoenberg recommends sprinkling deterrents like hot cayenne, garlic, apple cider, peppermint, or coffee grounds around your plants and gardens.
—
Nashia Baker,
Martha Stewart,
25 June 2026
Nearly half of Gen Zers cited worries about their finances and personal well-being as deterrents from looking for jobs focused on helping others.
—
Avni Trivedi,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Nuisance complaint If someone were to lodge a nuisance complaint about a cat colony, the first thing the department would offer is deterrents, Knicely said.
—
Eva Flowe
june 18,
Charlotte Observer,
18 June 2026
Try Natural Deterrents Aside from scented plants, some natural deterrents may also keep ticks at bay, including natural sprays that contain garlic, mint, or marigold extract.
—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2026
The truth is that squirrels are a common rodent, and a little bit of damage caused by these critters might not be that big of a deal, and not worth the hassle of figuring out a bunch of different deterrents.
—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Retaliation and alienation from team-mates and friends were also deterrents from speaking out, according to the report.
—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Scare tactics, physical barriers, unpleasant deterrents, and lack of resources should keep squirrels away.
—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
28 May 2026
If an unknown person enters the property perimeter, the system can trigger deterrents including warning lights and voice alerts.
—
Paul Lamkin,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Nashia Baker,
Martha Stewart,
25 June 2026
Nearly half of Gen Zers cited worries about their finances and personal well-being as deterrents from looking for jobs focused on helping others.
—
Avni Trivedi,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Nuisance complaint If someone were to lodge a nuisance complaint about a cat colony, the first thing the department would offer is deterrents, Knicely said.
—
Eva Flowe
june 18,
Charlotte Observer,
18 June 2026
Try Natural Deterrents Aside from scented plants, some natural deterrents may also keep ticks at bay, including natural sprays that contain garlic, mint, or marigold extract.
—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2026
The truth is that squirrels are a common rodent, and a little bit of damage caused by these critters might not be that big of a deal, and not worth the hassle of figuring out a bunch of different deterrents.
—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Retaliation and alienation from team-mates and friends were also deterrents from speaking out, according to the report.
—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Scare tactics, physical barriers, unpleasant deterrents, and lack of resources should keep squirrels away.
—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
28 May 2026
If an unknown person enters the property perimeter, the system can trigger deterrents including warning lights and voice alerts.
—
Paul Lamkin,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deterrents
Noun
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Already, the dune had swallowed up the northern part of the parking lot along with trees and other obstacles in its way.
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With so many preparation obstacles, Ghalenoei leaned on experience against Belgium, sending out the oldest starting 11 at a World Cup match since 1966, according to Opta.
Noun
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Working with researchers at the Freie Universität Berlin, the University of Edinburgh, and Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, IQM has developed a new family of error correction called directional tile codes, addressing major hurdles in quantum error correction.
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The bill targets the cost of construction, regulatory red tape, zoning restrictions, and banking hurdles.
Noun
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The race was red-flagged, so crews could clean up the mess and inspect the barriers.
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Lauzon also serves as a community engagement manager and designed the project to give emerging and underrepresented artists a place to sell their work without financial barriers.
Noun
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To have the best chance of viewing the planetary alignment, find a spot free of light pollution and a view of the horizon without obstructions like trees or tall buildings.
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Not just crashes, but obstructions, emergency scene conflicts, unexpected stops in travel lanes and response-time performance.
Cite this Entry
“Deterrents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deterrents. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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