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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of deterrents
The smarter approach is a layered defense — natural deterrents, physical barriers and simple environmental changes that make your yard far less inviting before wasps decide to settle in.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026
Try Peppermint Oil Spray One of the simplest wasp deterrents may already be sitting in your pantry.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
During the 20th and 21st centuries, aircraft came to play increasingly important roles in determining the outcome of battles as well as being deterrents to aggression.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The standoff centers on a joint project with a multi-layered set of deterrents and technological solutions being developed at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam – on the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois – to keep the carp species from entering the Great Lakes.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
One of the biggest deterrents for airlines in adjusting a route is the potential cost of extra fuel, but the trial found no statistically significant difference in fuel usage observed between the two groups.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Other natural ant deterrents include vinegar, essential oils, and diatomaceous earth.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 13 Mar. 2026
Experts stress that the likelihood of nuclear use remains extremely low, largely because nuclear weapons function primarily as deterrents.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 13 Mar. 2026
Static deterrents, such as a plastic owl or cat silhouette, are not effective.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026
Try Peppermint Oil Spray One of the simplest wasp deterrents may already be sitting in your pantry.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
During the 20th and 21st centuries, aircraft came to play increasingly important roles in determining the outcome of battles as well as being deterrents to aggression.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The standoff centers on a joint project with a multi-layered set of deterrents and technological solutions being developed at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam – on the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois – to keep the carp species from entering the Great Lakes.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
One of the biggest deterrents for airlines in adjusting a route is the potential cost of extra fuel, but the trial found no statistically significant difference in fuel usage observed between the two groups.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Other natural ant deterrents include vinegar, essential oils, and diatomaceous earth.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 13 Mar. 2026
Experts stress that the likelihood of nuclear use remains extremely low, largely because nuclear weapons function primarily as deterrents.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 13 Mar. 2026
Static deterrents, such as a plastic owl or cat silhouette, are not effective.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deterrents
Noun
-
Making a robot run is not a simple task and requires precise balance control, terrain handling (uneven surfaces), endurance, navigation, and anti-interference capabilities (noise, obstacles, etc).—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Football matchups featuring the Pac-12 legacy schools make loads of sense but face several obstacles.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Collins announced on Monday that after two years of legal hurdles and negotiations, the project to take over and transform InfoWars is finally getting off the ground.—
Rolling Stone,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Developers face a gauntlet of zoning rules, permitting delays, high construction costs, expensive property taxes and local political hurdles, all of which slow or shrink projects before they ever get built.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Address a gopher threat proactively through weed control and laying down barriers.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Virtual psychology removes outdated barriers by merging medical scrutiny with convenience, helping individuals move from uncertainty toward greater clarity.—
Lucy Jones
April 11,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But the Scot hooked his second shot from a wet fairway on the 609-yard closing hole — a par 5 that yielded only 10 birdies in the final round — and even after getting relief from temporary immovable obstructions, MacIntyre could only hit wedge to 30 feet.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
But there are wild cards, including potential obstructions from Orion’s solar arrays or the body of the spacecraft and uncertainty about how well the vehicle can maintain a consistent orientation.—
Adam Bluestein,
Scientific American,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deterrents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deterrents. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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