verb

deter

/dɪˈtɜr/ · say it: dih·TER

to discourage from acting

In Actions & Behavior

In more detail

1. (verb) to discourage someone from doing something by making them afraid of the consequences

2. (verb) to prevent something from happening

Examples

1. The high cost of college didn't deter him from applying.
2. Security cameras can deter crime in the neighborhood.

How to use deter

Deter is used when discouraging someone through fear of consequences (often crime or misbehavior) or when preventing something from occurring. It is slightly more formal than 'discourage' and emphasizes the role of fear or threat as a mechanism. In security and policy contexts, it often refers to preventing hostile actions through the threat of retaliation.

Common phrases

deter crime
deter investment
deter someone from doing something
effectively deter
deter potential
deter attack

Synonyms

discourage · dissuade · prevent · inhibit · hinder

Opposites

encourage · promote

Word family

deterrent (noun/adjective) · deterrence (noun) · deterring (verb) · deterred (verb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse 'deter' with 'defer'; deter means to discourage or prevent, while defer means to postpone or show respect to someone's opinion.

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