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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deters
While rosemary’s fragrance deters many pest insects, alyssum’s flowers attract beneficial bugs that feed on nuisance pests.
—
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2026
Such profligacy slows real income growth, deters hiring, discourages innovation and drives up interest rates.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Such profligacy slows real income growth, deters hiring, discourages innovation and drives up interest rates.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
This deters patients from using other opioids while on the medication.
—Rachel French, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
The aromatic foliage of sages (including herb species) deters aphids and Japanese beetles, while the blossoms support a host of beneficial insects.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Which scent deters wasps the most?
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026
Green expressed an eagerness to roam defensively beside Porzingis, who alters shots and deters attacks based on where he’s stationed in the paint.
—Sam Gordon, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Feb. 2026
Collective action deters bullies Harvard never stood alone.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2026
Such profligacy slows real income growth, deters hiring, discourages innovation and drives up interest rates.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Such profligacy slows real income growth, deters hiring, discourages innovation and drives up interest rates.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
This deters patients from using other opioids while on the medication.
—Rachel French, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
The aromatic foliage of sages (including herb species) deters aphids and Japanese beetles, while the blossoms support a host of beneficial insects.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Which scent deters wasps the most?
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026
Green expressed an eagerness to roam defensively beside Porzingis, who alters shots and deters attacks based on where he’s stationed in the paint.
—Sam Gordon, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Feb. 2026
Collective action deters bullies Harvard never stood alone.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
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
-
When asked to comment, Apple pointed to previous statements, saying that the DMA discourages innovation, weakens privacy protections, delays or degrades product launches and increases security risks.—
Kai Nicol-Schwarz,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
-
These create a gentle barrier that discourages unconscious rolling during the night.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deters. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
