dissuade

verb

dis·​suade di-ˈswād 

dissuaded; dissuading

transitive verb

1

a

: to advise (a person) against something

… dissuading us from base thoughts, low ends, ignoble gains …

—A. T. Quiller-Couch

b

archaic : to advise against (an action)

2

: to turn from something by persuasion

unable to dissuade him from going

dissuader noun

Synonyms

• deter
• discourage
• inhibit

Examples of dissuade in a Sentence

Our warnings did not dissuade them.

tried to dissuade her from her intention to drop out of college

Recent Examples on the Web

Lower corporate tax rates, coupled with this international tax agreement, could dissuade companies from using renewable energy credits, stalling investments and growth in this critical sector. —George Strobel, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025

Foreigners may be dissuaded from crossing illegally into the United States for fear of ending up at Guantánamo. —Carol Rosenberg, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025

That plus the 28-year-old Reed’s age would dissuade me from pursuing him. —Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025

The severity of the charges against Mangione hasn't dissuaded reams of supporters from turning him into an icon among Americans frustrated with their healthcare system. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French dissuader, from Latin dissuadēre, from dis- + suadēre to urge — more at sweet

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for dissuade

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

dissuade

verb

dis·​suade dis-ˈwād 

dissuaded; dissuading

: to persuade or advise not to do something