as in dissuades
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 deters
Cabbage and Celery Much like calendula, celery stalks also have a particular scent that deters pests.
—
Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 7 May 2026
Plus, the running water deters mosquitoes from laying eggs—unlike stillwater, which can become a breeding hotspot.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 May 2026
Sage's purple flowers attract beneficial pollinators to the garden, while its strong scent deters pests like rabbits, moths, flies, and beetles.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026
Figs contain a natural latex that deters pests, helping protect the tree from infestations.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
The split top deters people from dropping in a full bag of household garbage.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026
The pre-arrest program, which now exists in all 67 counties across Florida, deters young adults from entering the criminal justice system on their first misdemeanor offense.
—Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
However, some senior Israeli security officials, including representatives from the Israel Defense Forces and the intelligence service Shin Bet, dispute these claims, arguing that there is no evidence capital punishment deters terrorism.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
Some experts argue that paying more for surgeries and procedures versus primary care incentivizes performing more of those services — and also deters medical students from going into primary care in the first place.
—Caitlin Owens, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025
Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 7 May 2026
Plus, the running water deters mosquitoes from laying eggs—unlike stillwater, which can become a breeding hotspot.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 May 2026
Sage's purple flowers attract beneficial pollinators to the garden, while its strong scent deters pests like rabbits, moths, flies, and beetles.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026
Figs contain a natural latex that deters pests, helping protect the tree from infestations.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
The split top deters people from dropping in a full bag of household garbage.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026
The pre-arrest program, which now exists in all 67 counties across Florida, deters young adults from entering the criminal justice system on their first misdemeanor offense.
—Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
However, some senior Israeli security officials, including representatives from the Israel Defense Forces and the intelligence service Shin Bet, dispute these claims, arguing that there is no evidence capital punishment deters terrorism.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
Some experts argue that paying more for surgeries and procedures versus primary care incentivizes performing more of those services — and also deters medical students from going into primary care in the first place.
—Caitlin Owens, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deters
Verb
-
The Live With Kelly and Mark host engaged in a titillating conversation with husband Mark Consuelos on Wednesday's edition of the beloved talk show, with the star admitting that her oral retainer sometimes dissuades her husband's advances in the bedroom.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The difficulty of challenging an arbitrator’s award sometimes dissuades the losing party from spending the time and money necessary to mount a viable challenge.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Basil discourages mosquitoes and houseflies, while mint helps push back ants and mosquitoes.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
-
Stating it from federal authority stigmatizes depression treatment and discourages people from seeking care.—
Jonathan Slater,
STAT,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deters. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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