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
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices also said in an early July report mortgage rates are one of the main deterrents for both home buyers and sellers.
—
Sydney Lake, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Wealthier Japan and South Korea have struggled to lift their fertility rates, as younger generations cite shifting social attitudes, long work hours, and workplace barriers for mothers as deterrents to starting families.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
But even if Ross changed his mind and decided to sell majority interest in the franchise, there would deterrents because of tax law.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Many of these security upgrades were accelerated by pandemic protocols and have continued as permanent deterrents.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
That success rate was about two and a half times the 2023 average, which hovers around ten percent in Colorado and serves as one of the discipline’s chief deterrents.
—Devon O’Neil, Outside, 15 Oct. 2025
Just be sure to apply deterrents regularly, as many are washed away by rain and melting snow and don’t last long.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
Officials in both countries say modernization of their undersea deterrents is critical as adversaries develop new anti-ship and missile defense systems.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
This can include receipts for deterrents, photos or other documents.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Sydney Lake, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Wealthier Japan and South Korea have struggled to lift their fertility rates, as younger generations cite shifting social attitudes, long work hours, and workplace barriers for mothers as deterrents to starting families.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
But even if Ross changed his mind and decided to sell majority interest in the franchise, there would deterrents because of tax law.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Many of these security upgrades were accelerated by pandemic protocols and have continued as permanent deterrents.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
That success rate was about two and a half times the 2023 average, which hovers around ten percent in Colorado and serves as one of the discipline’s chief deterrents.
—Devon O’Neil, Outside, 15 Oct. 2025
Just be sure to apply deterrents regularly, as many are washed away by rain and melting snow and don’t last long.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
Officials in both countries say modernization of their undersea deterrents is critical as adversaries develop new anti-ship and missile defense systems.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
This can include receipts for deterrents, photos or other documents.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deterrents
Noun
-
Institutions were obstacles to be blamed or bypassed.—
Philip Martin,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
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Ladders can help fish circumvent these obstacles, but learning to navigate them can take the animals days.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
One of the largest hurdles was ensuring that behavior learned on Earth would translate to space, an issue often called the Sim2Real gap.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Yet many Venezuelans are facing significant hurdles when seeking asylum in the United States and elsewhere.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
By targeting breeding grounds and establishing protective barriers, Hawx helps families reclaim their outdoor spaces.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
American Indian and Alaska Native elders face significant systemic barriers to accessing health and social support and have a lower life expectancy than all other populations in the United States.—
Holly J. McDede,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
These signs usually indicate several issues like clogs and obstructions or worn out parts.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
11 Dec. 2025
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Do yourself a favor and take the time to properly inspect the machine, tighten any fasteners, check for wear on the rotor paddles, scrapers, and skid shoes, and ensure that the auger and chute are free of obstructions.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deterrents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deterrents. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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