as in dissuades
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 deters
Figs contain a natural latex that deters pests, helping protect the tree from infestations.
—
Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
Garlic's potent aroma deters all these pests.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
The split top deters people from dropping in a full bag of household garbage.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026
The pre-arrest program, which now exists in all 67 counties across Florida, deters young adults from entering the criminal justice system on their first misdemeanor offense.
—Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
However, some senior Israeli security officials, including representatives from the Israel Defense Forces and the intelligence service Shin Bet, dispute these claims, arguing that there is no evidence capital punishment deters terrorism.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
Such profligacy slows real income growth, deters hiring, discourages innovation and drives up interest rates.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Such profligacy slows real income growth, deters hiring, discourages innovation and drives up interest rates.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
The aromatic foliage of sages (including herb species) deters aphids and Japanese beetles, while the blossoms support a host of beneficial insects.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
Garlic's potent aroma deters all these pests.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
The split top deters people from dropping in a full bag of household garbage.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026
The pre-arrest program, which now exists in all 67 counties across Florida, deters young adults from entering the criminal justice system on their first misdemeanor offense.
—Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
However, some senior Israeli security officials, including representatives from the Israel Defense Forces and the intelligence service Shin Bet, dispute these claims, arguing that there is no evidence capital punishment deters terrorism.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
Such profligacy slows real income growth, deters hiring, discourages innovation and drives up interest rates.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Such profligacy slows real income growth, deters hiring, discourages innovation and drives up interest rates.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
The aromatic foliage of sages (including herb species) deters aphids and Japanese beetles, while the blossoms support a host of beneficial insects.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deters
Verb
-
The Live With Kelly and Mark host engaged in a titillating conversation with husband Mark Consuelos on Wednesday's edition of the beloved talk show, with the star admitting that her oral retainer sometimes dissuades her husband's advances in the bedroom.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Apr. 2026
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The difficulty of challenging an arbitrator’s award sometimes dissuades the losing party from spending the time and money necessary to mount a viable challenge.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The women farmers say that the demanding nature of the work in the chile pepper fields discourages men.—
Suzanne Nuyen,
NPR,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Introducing uncertainty into energy rates, financing and grid management threatens existing employers and discourages future investment — particularly for manufacturers, clean tech firms, health care providers and small businesses already struggling with high costs.—
Chris Cate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deters. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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