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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Recent Examples of deters
Those who deviate are eliminated, leaving a trail of blood that deters other would-be challengers.
—
Daniel Depetris, Twin Cities, 15 May 2026
Legumes enrich soil with nitrogen, radishes repel cucumber beetles, and garlic deters pests while maximizing space.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2026
Lavender deters mosquitoes and moths.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Researchers wrote that the snake deters predators by pretending to have a second head, using its thick, round tail, which features the same markings as its head.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Cabbage and Celery Much like calendula, celery stalks also have a particular scent that deters pests.
—Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 7 May 2026
Sage's purple flowers attract beneficial pollinators to the garden, while its strong scent deters pests like rabbits, moths, flies, and beetles.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026
Figs contain a natural latex that deters pests, helping protect the tree from infestations.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
The split top deters people from dropping in a full bag of household garbage.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026
Daniel Depetris, Twin Cities, 15 May 2026
Legumes enrich soil with nitrogen, radishes repel cucumber beetles, and garlic deters pests while maximizing space.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2026
Lavender deters mosquitoes and moths.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Researchers wrote that the snake deters predators by pretending to have a second head, using its thick, round tail, which features the same markings as its head.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Cabbage and Celery Much like calendula, celery stalks also have a particular scent that deters pests.
—Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 7 May 2026
Sage's purple flowers attract beneficial pollinators to the garden, while its strong scent deters pests like rabbits, moths, flies, and beetles.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026
Figs contain a natural latex that deters pests, helping protect the tree from infestations.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
The split top deters people from dropping in a full bag of household garbage.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 16 Apr. 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
-
Basil discourages mosquitoes and houseflies, while mint helps push back ants and mosquitoes.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
-
Stating it from federal authority stigmatizes depression treatment and discourages people from seeking care.—
Jonathan Slater,
STAT,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deters. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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