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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of deterring
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2026
Both plants attract pollinators, and salvia benefits zinnias by deterring aphids, whiteflies, and other common garden pests.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
Lavender is a great companion plant to use with vegetable gardens, as its strong floral scent attracts beneficial pollinators, while deterring harmful insects.
—Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026
Reimbursement rates have not kept up with costs, deterring dentists from accepting Medicaid, said Marko Vujicic, chief economist and vice president at the ADA Health Policy Institute.
—Phil Galewitz, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who heads the far-right Brothers of Italy party, pledged a crackdown on migration after taking office in 2022, with the goal of deterring would-be refugees from paying smugglers to make the dangerous Mediterranean crossing.
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
Make sure your squirrel-deterring methods are actually bird-safe.
—Heather Bien, The Spruce, 10 Feb. 2026
In other words, placing a person’s actions under observation is an essential component for deterring malicious conduct.
—Paul Rosenzweig, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026
Colombian officials said Petro planned to focus on defending his record in deterring drug trafficking, even though cocaine production is rising in Colombia.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
In addition to deterring unwanted visitors or critters, these flood lights have also become popular among pet owners for another purpose.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2026
Both plants attract pollinators, and salvia benefits zinnias by deterring aphids, whiteflies, and other common garden pests.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
Lavender is a great companion plant to use with vegetable gardens, as its strong floral scent attracts beneficial pollinators, while deterring harmful insects.
—Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026
Reimbursement rates have not kept up with costs, deterring dentists from accepting Medicaid, said Marko Vujicic, chief economist and vice president at the ADA Health Policy Institute.
—Phil Galewitz, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who heads the far-right Brothers of Italy party, pledged a crackdown on migration after taking office in 2022, with the goal of deterring would-be refugees from paying smugglers to make the dangerous Mediterranean crossing.
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
Make sure your squirrel-deterring methods are actually bird-safe.
—Heather Bien, The Spruce, 10 Feb. 2026
In other words, placing a person’s actions under observation is an essential component for deterring malicious conduct.
—Paul Rosenzweig, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026
Colombian officials said Petro planned to focus on defending his record in deterring drug trafficking, even though cocaine production is rising in Colombia.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 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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Trump, just as the vote was wrapping up, issued a primary threat against those who opposed his tariff regime — potentially dissuading some Republicans running in tight seats from backing Democrats’ tariff resolutions.—
Emily Brooks,
The Hill,
13 Feb. 2026
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A little bout of volatility isn't dissuading Ed Yardeni from his bullish take on stocks.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Acknowledge that the disappointment from losing is real—but that feeling is a normal part of all types of play and shouldn't be discouraging.—
Stephanie Ganz,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
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Some Fed officials have specifically argued that last year’s weak hiring shows that borrowing costs are weighing on growth and discouraging companies from expanding.—
Matt Ott,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deterring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deterring. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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