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deter

[ dih-tur ]
/ dɪˈtɜr /
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See synonyms for: deter / deterred / deterring on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), de·terred, de·ter·ring.
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.
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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-

OTHER WORDS FROM deter

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to deter

avert, block, dampen, daunt, discourage, dissuade, forestall, frighten, hinder, impede, intimidate, obstruct, preclude, prevent, prohibit, restrain, scare, stop, caution, chill

How to use deter in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for deter

deter
/ (dɪˈtɜː) /
verb -ters, -terring or -terred
(tr) to discourage (from acting) or prevent (from occurring), usually by instilling fear, doubt, or anxiety

Derived forms of deter

determent, noun

Word Origin for deter

C16: from Latin dēterrēre, from de- + terrēre to frighten
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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