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

Singapore has long paid its politicians especially well, arguing that competitive salaries help to deter corruption and are necessary to attract top talent that might otherwise join the private sector.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

We remain committed to NATO’s collective defense and clear-eyed about the need for Allies to increase their capabilities to deter all threats to…

From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026

This week's manoeuvres involving Japan, South Korea and the United States were established in 2023 in what officials called an effort to deter Pyongyang's missile and nuclear threats.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

This would include waiving of taxes on animal feed inputs, as well as "active retail price monitoring to deter opportunity price gouging and rationing".

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

Emily gave Jose a small smile of gratitude, but his interjection didn’t deter Mr. Quisling.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

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

From Slate ● Sep. 10, 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

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

“And then if I want to maintain that wealth, it deters the decumulation of assets in old age.”

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 16, 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

When this direction didn’t pan out, Parton wasn’t deterred.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

Would-be home buyers are deterred by higher mortgage rates, and higher savings mean less spending.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

Deivid knew that climbing into the rubble would put his sons at risk, but they would not be deterred from searching for their missing family members.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

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

“You will perhaps be deterred by the rising of your stomach,” he writes.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

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

TAIPEI—Taiwan kicked off 10 days of military and civil defense exercises on Wednesday, advancing its strategy for deterring a Chinese invasion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 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

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