DETER Synonyms: 16 Similar and Opposite Words

deter

verb

di-ˈtər

Definition of deter

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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of deter And despite huge military spending, Saudi forces have struggled to deter their enemies. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Judging by how Wall Street reacted, the noisy EPS number did not deter buyers. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 Experts at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania are embarking on a study to see if the drugs can deter risky financial decisions. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 What might seem like prudent preparation in Washington or Tehran could help bring about the war it is meant to deter. — Ali Vaez, Time, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deter

Verb

But there’s little evidence that long runtimes are dissuading moviegoers.

— Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Higher interest rates are a pain, but not enough to dissuade them from building.

— John Towfighi, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of dissuade

Verb

Clark County officials said the campaign is not intended to discourage voluntary tips, however.

— Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
But flying less can raise operating costs per seat, while pushing prices higher risks discouraging travelers who have already absorbed steep increases.

— Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of discourage

Browse Nearby Words

detentions

deter

deterge

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“Deter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deter. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of deter

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