as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the homeowner put up a fence around his garden as a deterrent for animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in preventive
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deterrent
Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
European forces in Ukraine would also mirror the deterrent effect of U.S. combat forces in South Korea.
—Stephen Hadley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2025
Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
But the bigger deterrent was almost certainly the prospect of pulling NATO, and with it the United States, into the war.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deterrent
Noun
Arrests in court will create a deterrent effect on individuals appearing for their court hearings, 90% of individuals placed in removal proceedings attend their hearings, these actions will continue to cause harm, confusion, and are not the way our government should act.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
European forces in Ukraine would also mirror the deterrent effect of U.S. combat forces in South Korea.
—Stephen Hadley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Electric cars vs common theft methods The old-fashioned way of stealing cars by taking the keys from the owner still works, but EVs have deterrents against some of the new theft methods.
—Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
But the bigger deterrent was almost certainly the prospect of pulling NATO, and with it the United States, into the war.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deterrent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deterrent
Noun
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This means that fuel cells can, theoretically, operate without the infrastructure problems of electric or hydrogen vehicles, but the real obstacle is achieving sheer power in a light, compact engine that is compliant with existing regulations.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Sep. 2025
-
This enables the robot to figure out its precise navigation and obstacle avoidance coordinates, with an accuracy down to 2 centimeters.—
Ni Tao,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
As the authors noted, the percentage reduction in Covid-19 infection is on par with what has been seen for other preventive measures, such as being up-to-date on Covid vaccines.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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Other experts say that, while larger studies are still needed, the new investigation suggests a promising add-on to existing preventive measures, especially for patients already relying on nasal sprays for allergy relief.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For a franchise placing its future on the development of young players, the timing of the injuries is a hurdle.—
Grant Afseth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
As a result, same-sex couples continue to face other challenges in other aspects of daily life, from visiting their partner at hospitals to raising children, hurdles that families in many other global financial capitals that look to attract top talent no longer face.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Otherwise, the oil works as a specialized scalp treatment, too, or to provide nourishment during protective styling.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
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Physicists revealed that the HRNS spectrometer will be installed behind a thick concrete protective wall surrounding the fusion chamber, near an opening several centimetres in diameter, to be able to detect neutrons produced in the very center of the plasma.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Mitigating these risks requires careful planning and compliance, which creates barriers for many.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The order also directs CDPHE to collaborate with other state agencies and offices to identify and remove barriers to vaccination, ensure state health insurance plans and Medicaid cover COVID-19 vaccines and review and revise rules to ensure pharmacies can provide COVID-19 vaccines.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
For months the Yankees defended Anthony Volpe as his average plummeted and his defensive woes emerged with an AL-worst 19 errors.—
Larry Fleisher,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Over a very small sample of 178 innings, Devers has been worth one defensive run saved.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Tyler Robinson was also arrested on charges of obstruction of justice and the felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, authorities said.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
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Since then, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson has been taken into custody and is charged with murder, obstruction, and felony firearm charges after allegedly shooting Kirk from a nearby building while the right-wing activist was speaking at a college event in Utah.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Claudia Choose vulnerability over performative coolness, because possible embarrassment is way more powerful than polished detachment.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
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The companies showing off their cases with a lighter white or silvery iPhone 17 Pro in product shots mostly dodged any embarrassment, as those are harder to distinguish from Apple’s actual silver color.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deterrent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deterrent. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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