Synonyms

deter

American

[dih-tur] / dɪˈtɜr /

verb (used with object)

to discourage or restrain from acting or proceeding.

The large dog deterred trespassers.
to prevent; check; arrest.

timber treated with creosote to deter rot.
to repel.

Strongly scented marigolds planted among the melons are supposed to deter beetles.

deter British

/ dɪˈtɜː /

verb

(tr) to discourage (from acting) or prevent (from occurring), usually by instilling fear, doubt, or anxiety

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Etymology

Origin of deter

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin dēterrēre “to discourage, put off, frighten,” equivalent to dē-, prefix and preposition + terrēre “to frighten, scare”; see de-

Explanation

Deter means to discourage, or literally “to frighten away.” Halloween decorations that are too scary might deter trick-or-treaters, and the risk of being expelled deters kids from cheating in school. Deter comes from the Latin de meaning "away" and terrere meaning "frighten." Something that deters isn’t always scary, though: citronella plants deter mosquitoes, and fines deter people from littering. Teddy Roosevelt's foreign policy dictum "speak softly and carry a big stick" was meant to deter other countries from attacking the United States.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

deter deters deterred deterring

"I don't know how many people it'll actually deter," she said.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

And what is the protocol when a checking account has to be created numerous times to deter hacking?

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

In response, Tustin increased patrols around the park and installed cameras and new lighting in an effort to deter criminal activity.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

The U.K. has scrambled jets to deter Russian jet fighters spotted over Ireland’s west coast.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

He found, always, that matter had retained its dubious solidity in his absence; but this did not deter him.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

That’s what “nuclear deterrence” is all about; the possession of nuclear weapons deters others from behaving aggressively.

From Slate ● Sep. 10, 2026

The government has previously argued that paying ministers high salaries deters corruption.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

I think some of that deters people from coming to downtown even if you have a cool place and a cool party,” Origin’s co-founder Roni Mehrabian said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

Evidence that the CTA deters real criminals is thin.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

The others have turned pale; let’s hope it deters them.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

The intruder might have been deterred by the couple’s two dogs — except that neither canine acted like a traditional guard dog.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

Rupar told Salon that he won’t be deterred “from the unvarnished coverage of Trumpworld I’ve been doing since 2016.”

From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026

Speaking following the judgement on Friday, McDevitt said: "While I am disappointed with the Court of Appeal judgement today, I am not deterred in my campaign to clear my name."

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

Reports quietly announce that the Supreme Court, like the rest of the country, wouldn’t be deterred from its work.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

I was trying to rescue Diego—I’d-never seen him so adorably flustered—but my mother was not easily deterred.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

That begs the question of why they were performed, other than raw intimidation, deterring would-be whistleblowers, and punishing the disloyal.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026

The yen has been sliding despite previous interventions and comments by Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama that Japan was ready to act, remarks aimed at deterring investors from betting on the currency sliding further.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

Given Starlink’s strategic importance, the U.S. would strengthen its hand by deterring such efforts or aiding SpaceX’s cyber defense.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

Austria will formally open a new police station on Wednesday in Adolf Hitler's former house, in the hope of deterring today's ascendant far-right extremists from making the pilgrimage to the Nazi dictator's birthplace.

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

It can patrol there with its big old horns, deterring burglars and such.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023