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
Don’t use poisons, traps, or deterrents that could cause harm.
—
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026
Ants dislike chrysanthemums, mint varieties, tansy, and marigolds, so add them to your garden as deterrents.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
But none of those deterrents have been sufficient to solve the problem of over-height trucks attempting to pass under the viaduct.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Half of the money for wolf conflicts would go toward deterrents; the remainder would compensate ranchers for their losses.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Use sensory deterrents, such as ammonia in a shallow bowl.
—Sarah Linn, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026
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
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026
Ants dislike chrysanthemums, mint varieties, tansy, and marigolds, so add them to your garden as deterrents.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
But none of those deterrents have been sufficient to solve the problem of over-height trucks attempting to pass under the viaduct.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Half of the money for wolf conflicts would go toward deterrents; the remainder would compensate ranchers for their losses.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Use sensory deterrents, such as ammonia in a shallow bowl.
—Sarah Linn, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deterrents
Noun
-
These obstacles seemed insurmountable, but the group pushed on for over three years.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
The stadium deal in Vancouver is one of the biggest obstacles in trying to keep the team there.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Ramona High’s Remingtyn Bryant was struggling in the 100-meter hurdles.—
Steve Brand,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
Experts warn there are big hurdles to a broader solar revolution, however.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
The council also exempted from SB 79 areas that are close to a transit stop but violate the spirit of SB 79 because residents can’t walk to it easily because of barriers like canyons, freeways or a lack of sidewalks.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Educating women on maternal health matters is just one of the initiatives of the nonprofit that hopes to break down health access barriers in a tangible way.—
Allison Kiehl,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
If safe, residents are asked to remove any obstructions to the public street, right of way, and sidewalk.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Deterrents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deterrents. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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