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
While Capital One's lawsuit seeks damages, the bank said its primary goal of the litigation is to expose and deter bad actors and the firms that enable them.
—
Stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 13 May 2026
In warmer early spring areas, marigolds help deter pests later in the season, and sweet alyssum offers a low-growing, pollinator-friendly option.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026
Many reports that do arrive to the Honor Committee are now anonymous because of another technological development of longer standing—social media—which has reportedly deterred students from reporting openly out of apprehension of doxxing or shaming among their peer groups.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
The National Alliance for Care at Home warned against overly broad action that could deter doctors and patients from recommending or seeking care.
—Jody Godoy, USA Today, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deter
Stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 13 May 2026
In warmer early spring areas, marigolds help deter pests later in the season, and sweet alyssum offers a low-growing, pollinator-friendly option.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026
Many reports that do arrive to the Honor Committee are now anonymous because of another technological development of longer standing—social media—which has reportedly deterred students from reporting openly out of apprehension of doxxing or shaming among their peer groups.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
The National Alliance for Care at Home warned against overly broad action that could deter doctors and patients from recommending or seeking care.
—Jody Godoy, USA Today, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deter
Verb
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The boldest part of Astra Nord’s strategy is its intention to begin building the 213-foot Neon on spec, in a market where spiking construction costs and uncertain demand dissuades many shipyards from the same.—
Dea Jusufi,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
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Cloobeck was charged with three felony counts of attempting to dissuade a witness in connection to a criminal case pending against his fiancée, Adva Lavie, according to KTLA and NBC LA, which cited a criminal complaint.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Candidates often decide within seconds whether a listing feels worth pursuing, so long paragraphs, dense blocks of text and repetitive language can quickly discourage applicants from continuing through the listing.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
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Critics say that using it distorts the truth of a performance, but supporters believe that the tech discourages disruptions.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deter. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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