deterrence
noun
de·ter·rence
di-ˈtər-ən(t)s 
-ˈter-
-ˈter-
-ˈtə-rən(t)s,
-ˈte-;
dē-
: the act or process of deterring: such as
a
: the inhibition of criminal behavior by fear especially of punishment
b
: the maintenance of military power for the purpose of discouraging attack
nuclear deterrence
Examples of deterrence in a Sentence
The author argues that deterrence is no longer the best way to prevent war.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rubio repeated the Trump administration's stance that the minerals deal would link the economies of the U.S. and Ukraine, which would prove an effective deterrence to Russia.
—
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025
More important, the notion of having U.S. mining operations on or near the border between the Ukraine and Russia, especially the bord is with its occupied Ukrainian territory, to serve as a deterrence to future military action is hardly going to appeal to most private companies.
—Michael Lynch, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Its ballistic missile fleet, long a second line of deterrence alongside those proxies, has proved ineffective against Israeli air defenses that are backed by U.S. and other regional forces.
—Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2025
Frustrated by delays in federal and state deterrence projects, and annoyed by their own encounters with the flying fish, residents of a small town in west Illinois saw both a challenge and an opportunity in the large numbers of silver carp that infested their stretch of the Illinois River.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deterrence
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Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025
More important, the notion of having U.S. mining operations on or near the border between the Ukraine and Russia, especially the bord is with its occupied Ukrainian territory, to serve as a deterrence to future military action is hardly going to appeal to most private companies.
—Michael Lynch, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Its ballistic missile fleet, long a second line of deterrence alongside those proxies, has proved ineffective against Israeli air defenses that are backed by U.S. and other regional forces.
—Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2025
Frustrated by delays in federal and state deterrence projects, and annoyed by their own encounters with the flying fish, residents of a small town in west Illinois saw both a challenge and an opportunity in the large numbers of silver carp that infested their stretch of the Illinois River.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deterrence
Articles Related to deterrence
Cite this Entry
“Deterrence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deterrence. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deterrence
noun
de·ter·rence
di-ˈtər-ən(t)s
-ˈter-
-ˈter-
: the act, process, or capability of deterring
Legal Definition
deterrence
noun
de·ter·rence
di-ˈtər-əns, -ˈter-
: the inhibition of criminal behavior by fear especially of punishment
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