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
- determent noun
- deterrability noun
- deterrable adjective
- deterrer noun
- undeterrability noun
- undeterrable adjective
- undeterrably adverb
- undeterring adjective
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”; de-
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.
The bases allow the U.S. to quickly detect threats headed toward the homeland, deter Russia and project force abroad, analysts say.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
“To build themselves up and deter others from challenging their power, they take others down in public, letting them know exactly where they stand and how much they scorn them.”
From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026
Around the world, more countries are ramping up arms production and boosting investments in national security, if only to deter rivals.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026
February’s CPI inflation was 2.4%, lower than expected, but rising energy costs may still deter Federal Reserve rate cuts.
From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026
“We only have three poles,” Bobby Gene said, as if that kind of logic was going to deter her.
From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon
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.
