as in to dissuade
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 deter
This is an inexpensive and simple way to deter nibbling animals.
—
Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 5 Feb. 2026
Ethiopia has been among Africa’s fastest-growing economies in recent years, but delays in restructuring its debt has deterred international investors.
—Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The spokesperson also said the company has amended its policies to deter host cancellations, decreasing such instances by 30 percent year over year since July 2023.
—Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
That means that more than 1,400 miles of the entire southern border will have a physical barrier to deter people from crossing by the time the current and future projects are completed.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deter
Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 5 Feb. 2026
Ethiopia has been among Africa’s fastest-growing economies in recent years, but delays in restructuring its debt has deterred international investors.
—Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The spokesperson also said the company has amended its policies to deter host cancellations, decreasing such instances by 30 percent year over year since July 2023.
—Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
That means that more than 1,400 miles of the entire southern border will have a physical barrier to deter people from crossing by the time the current and future projects are completed.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deter
Verb
-
Lithgow has said her views didn’t dissuade him from taking the role.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
8 Feb. 2026
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At the end of Biden’s term, the government put in policies to dissuade unauthorized border crossings.—
William Tong,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Some borrowers have become discouraged by the wait, experts say.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
9 Feb. 2026
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High speeds discourage sidewalk activity, reduce visibility for storefronts, and make outdoor dining feel risky rather than inviting.—
Tim Giuliani,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deter. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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