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
The outbreak exacerbates existing vulnerabilities like conflict, malnutrition, and low vaccination rates, while fear deters routine healthcare.
—
Maryanne Murray Buechner,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
While cabbage is susceptible to pests, surrounding it with chives effectively deters unwanted visitors such as aphids, cabbage moths, flea beetles, and slugs.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
30 June 2026
Some also argue that coffee’s caffeine content or abrasive texture deters pests from entering homes and gardens.
—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
24 June 2026
Its scent deters pests such as rabbits and ants, while diluted sprays help control slugs and snails when applied periodically.
—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 June 2026
The specter of shifting politics deters drillers from taking up new licenses.
—
Ari Natter,
Bloomberg,
9 June 2026
The green leaves are splotched with white and bumpy on the upper side, and the stems are hairy, which deters deer.
—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
4 June 2026
Those who deviate are eliminated, leaving a trail of blood that deters other would-be challengers.
—
Daniel Depetris,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
Those who deviate are eliminated, leaving a trail of blood that deters other would-be challengers.
—
Daniel Depetris,
Twin Cities,
15 May 2026
Maryanne Murray Buechner,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
While cabbage is susceptible to pests, surrounding it with chives effectively deters unwanted visitors such as aphids, cabbage moths, flea beetles, and slugs.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
30 June 2026
Some also argue that coffee’s caffeine content or abrasive texture deters pests from entering homes and gardens.
—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
24 June 2026
Its scent deters pests such as rabbits and ants, while diluted sprays help control slugs and snails when applied periodically.
—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 June 2026
The specter of shifting politics deters drillers from taking up new licenses.
—
Ari Natter,
Bloomberg,
9 June 2026
The green leaves are splotched with white and bumpy on the upper side, and the stems are hairy, which deters deer.
—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
4 June 2026
Those who deviate are eliminated, leaving a trail of blood that deters other would-be challengers.
—
Daniel Depetris,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
Those who deviate are eliminated, leaving a trail of blood that deters other would-be challengers.
—
Daniel Depetris,
Twin Cities,
15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deters
Verb
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Still, with the new lottery system that dissuades (if not eliminates) tanking, the gimmes seem to be gone in the East.
-
Hugo dissuades him—for unstated reasons that eventually prove pivotal—from putting the material online.
Verb
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The lengthy delay to the funeral has raised questions about how Khamenei's remains have been preserved, as Islamic tradition, anaylsts say, generally calls for prompt burial and discourages chemical embalming.
-
Bell on Wednesday reaffirmed his support for Florida’s institutional neutrality policies, which discourages university leaders from taking official positions on political issues in an effort to avoid chilling debate among students and faculty.
Cite this Entry
“Deters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deters. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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