DISSUADE Synonyms: 16 Similar and Opposite Words

dissuade

verb

di-ˈswād

Definition of dissuade

as in to discourage

to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action tried to dissuade her from her intention to drop out of college

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 dissuade The committee attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to dissuade the auditor from running. — James A. Downs, The Washington Examiner, 19 June 2026 Leaders using this phrase create an unsafe psychological environment, dissuading any dissent or improvement curiosity. — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Defendants have claimed the case is a strategic lawsuit against public participation, also known as a SLAPP suit, which legal experts say are meant to dissuade the public from vocal criticisms. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 29 June 2026 That, however, hasn’t dissuaded educators nationwide who’ve adopted AI teaching assistants such as Magic School and Khanmigo, an AI tutor developed by Khan Academy. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dissuade

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissuade

Verb

Many gardeners buy praying mantis egg cases (oothecae) from garden nurseries, but this practice is discouraged for two reasons.

— Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026
Applying a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch, such as straw or leaf mulch, will discourage weeds in garden beds, says Langelo.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026

Definition of discourage

Verb

Dozens of artists including Billie Eilish, Hozier and Noah Kahan have since used it to enable fan-to-fan trading while deterring scalpers.

— Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026
It’s caged in by the lantern’s design, which deters squirrels and also creates less of a mess.

— Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026

Definition of deter

Browse Nearby Words

dissonant

dissuade

dissuaded

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Dissuade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissuade. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of dissuade

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on dissuade

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gambol

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes