deters

present tense third-person singular of deter
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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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 Dying is as much of a triumph as surviving, and the fear of destruction that deters other adversaries means little. — Khosro Isfahani, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026 Many birds will deliberately nest near wasp nests so the threat of being stung deters potential predators. — Chris Elphick, The Conversation, 6 Nov. 2026 This helps ensure the plants are secure in the ground and deters animals from digging up shallow bulbs. — The Spruce, 15 Oct. 2026 During dry periods, soil-dwelling bacteria produce a compound called geosmin that deters insects such as fruit flies. — Gregory Wakeman, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026 With Fiji's population spread across more than 100 islands, Lal says that such a journey likely deters many people from seeking care. — David Cox, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026 Worthington and Oborski see the program as both a formidable response during an active incident and a preventative measure that deters potential school shooters from attacking in the first place. — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026 Now, with one-year mercenary players plus rapid roster turnover, the first game deters even the most addicted sports gambler. — Mac Engel july 28, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026 The region will be carefully watched for any escalation that deters passage through the Strait of Hormuz. — Alex Harring,sarah Min, CNBC, 21 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deters
Verb
  • Mulch also helps suppress weeds and dissuades strawberry pests like slugs.
    — Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Whether their internal strength at the position dissuades them from allocating money to Abrams remains to be seen.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 25 July 2026
Verb
  • The cancer society no longer recommends screening at 75 — while acknowledging that particularly healthy 75- to 79-year-olds may choose to continue — and discourages it once men turn 80.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The American Veterinary Medical Association strongly discourages declawing as an elective procedure, but defers to veterinarians on each case.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Deters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deters. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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