as in deterrent
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as in dissuading
to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action
we tried to deter him from his crazy scheme, but to no avail
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Recent Examples of deterring
Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 26 Apr. 2026
The new 35-page report calls for quickly boosting troop numbers and military capabilities, and is primarily aimed at deterring Russia, analysts said.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
For almost 60 years, this was one of the city's least inviting landmarks, with increasingly stringent security deterring even the most placid of curious onlookers.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Advocates for those subjected to harassment say resignations provide accountability only if they are followed by substantive changes to the way allegations are handled and better policies for deterring such actions.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Containers are better for deterring pests, while plants in the ground will need less frequent watering.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 18 Apr. 2026
Miami has some intriguing names on its depth chart, but none that rise to the level of deterring the team from finding a talented rookie tight end.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
The first incident prompted the Los Angeles Police Department to focus its resources on deterring and responding to these events.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Getting them back, and quickly manufacturing more, is key to deterring China.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Limitations and Considerations While soap can be effective at deterring deer, several factors may influence its success depending on your particular situation.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 26 Apr. 2026
The new 35-page report calls for quickly boosting troop numbers and military capabilities, and is primarily aimed at deterring Russia, analysts said.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
For almost 60 years, this was one of the city's least inviting landmarks, with increasingly stringent security deterring even the most placid of curious onlookers.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Advocates for those subjected to harassment say resignations provide accountability only if they are followed by substantive changes to the way allegations are handled and better policies for deterring such actions.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Containers are better for deterring pests, while plants in the ground will need less frequent watering.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 18 Apr. 2026
Miami has some intriguing names on its depth chart, but none that rise to the level of deterring the team from finding a talented rookie tight end.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
The first incident prompted the Los Angeles Police Department to focus its resources on deterring and responding to these events.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Getting them back, and quickly manufacturing more, is key to deterring China.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deterring
Adjective
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Will blowing up boats stop fentanyl deaths in the U.S.? Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, meanwhile, has said Trump's military strikes near Venezuela are already having a deterrent effect on drug cartels.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
31 Dec. 2025
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This team has neither a point-of-attack defense on the perimeter nor a true deterrent interior presence.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
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He is also accused of dissuading a victim and destroying a communication device.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
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In the credit card world, the r/churning subreddit boasts nearly 30,000 weekly visitors, and even has a whole FAQ section about dissuading the average person from engaging in churning, offering several reasons that Fred agrees with.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Trump's letters to congressional leaders Friday are a volley aimed at discouraging lawmakers in Congress from restricting military action against Iran.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
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Planning presumes a set of ideal conditions for childbearing — conditions most accessible to white, economically secure Americans — while stigmatizing and discouraging the reproduction of others.—
Sonya Borrero,
STAT,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deterring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deterring. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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