as in to dissuade
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 deter
When planted with blueberries, alliums help deter Japanese beetles, deer, and aphids.
—
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026
Initially dispatched to deter voter discrimination against Black Americans after passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, election observers ensured that those qualified to vote could do so without trouble.
—Allison Mashell Mitchell, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
The weather didn’t seem to deter the home team.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Busy roads can also deter predators.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deter
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2026
Initially dispatched to deter voter discrimination against Black Americans after passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, election observers ensured that those qualified to vote could do so without trouble.
—Allison Mashell Mitchell, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
The weather didn’t seem to deter the home team.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Busy roads can also deter predators.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deter
Verb
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The gruesome images of tanks blown apart by drones in Ukraine did not dissuade anyone from purchasing these systems.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
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Not even the Vatican taking offense to their swift affair could dissuade Taylor and Burton.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mention cutting toxic people out of your life (but don’t reveal that the people in question are your friends who, at lunch, discouraged you from posting that).—
Emily Menez,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
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Within days, China’s surprise intervention in the deal quickly shattered that hope, as Beijing stepped up efforts to discourage Chinese AI founders from moving their businesses offshore.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deter. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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