deter
Americanverb (used with object)
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to discourage or restrain from acting or proceeding.
The large dog deterred trespassers.
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to prevent; check; arrest.
timber treated with creosote to deter rot.
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to repel.
Strongly scented marigolds planted among the melons are supposed to deter beetles.
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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determentnoun
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deterrabilitynoun
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deterrernoun
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undeterrabilitynoun
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deterrableadjective
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undeterrableadjective
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undeterringadjective
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undeterrablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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detersimple
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deterssimple
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have deterredperfect
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has deterredperfect
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am deterringprogressive
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are deterringprogressive
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is deterringprogressive
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have been deterringperfect progressive
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has been deterringperfect progressive
Past
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deterredsimple
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had deterredperfect
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was deterringprogressive
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were deterringprogressive
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had been deterringperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing deter
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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:
High prices, service fees and unavailable seats frustrated fans but did not deter them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
In its own discussions, English football felt that merely stopping players going to the technical area would not deter coaches from using goalkeepers to break up play.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
The Saudis also have a mutual defense pact with Pakistan, struck last year to deter attacks in the region as trust in the U.S. security establishment was eroded.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
"It's something that we now have to really understand and make sure that we're able to provide the capabilities that can counter that and deter aggression," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
And I didn’t let it deter me from continually trying to break the ice between my teammates and myself.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
“Not only is it the most expensive route, but it also deters from your actual mission, and so I decided that I would go down that path and build it.”
From MarketWatch ● May 7, 2026
While legal experts expect the suspension to be lifted, the delays add to legal uncertainty that deters investment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
It can foster guilt and create a dependency that discourages, delays and even deters a grandchild from developing an independent life.
From Salon ● May 11, 2025
“Ideally, it deters them from crossing” illegally, said Jeffrey Stalnaker, acting chief patrol agent of the Border Patrol’s San Diego sector.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2025
The others have turned pale; let’s hope it deters them.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
Some older homeowners may be deterred from selling by the tax hit if their property has appreciated significantly in value since they bought it.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
Perhaps most importantly, they need to learn to not be deterred by immediate losses.
From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026
Despite the threat of strikes, conservatives in Tehran have watched with rising alarm as traffic that was deterred from crossing during the war now ply the U.S.-backed route near Oman.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
Last Fourth of July, the company’s system deterred more than 20,000 people in the U.S. from booking an entire home listing on Airbnb, according to company spokesperson Ruthie Kongo.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
Not to be deterred, he used himself as a specimen, just like Jenny, and made observations.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
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
Traveler concerns about getting through customs at American airports are deterring some visitors, hotel owners said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
Airlines expect to carry more passengers this year but earn only half as much profit as in 2025, as high fuel prices don't appear to be fully deterring travel, according to projections published Sunday.
From Barron's ● Jun. 7, 2026
The Ministry of Defence said at the time it was "disrupting and deterring" shadow fleet vessels, without providing specific details.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 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
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
