Deter Definition

dĭ-tûr

deterred, deterring, deters

verb

deterred, deterring, deters

To keep or discourage (a person, group, or nation) from doing something by instilling fear, anxiety, doubt, etc.

Webster's New World

To prevent or discourage (an action or behavior).

Installed surveillance cameras to deter vandalism.

American Heritage

To make less likely or prevent from happening.

Protocols to deter infection.

American Heritage

To prevent something from happening.

Wiktionary

To persuade someone not to do something; to discourage.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Deter

From Latin dēterreō (“deter, discourage”), from de (“from”) + terreō (“I frighten”).

From Wiktionary
Latin dēterrēre dē- de- terrēre to frighten

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Find similar words to deter using the buttons below.